stuin

Mumbai: The state governments' decision to make non-Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) board schools follow state board syllabus from class I to IV and introduce Marathi language as a compulsory subject is facing much wrath from international and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) schools.

Though, principals are bewildered with the decision, which they feel is being enforced on them without even consulting them, several others feel that it is not feasible to implement it.

"There is no logic behind such move and we have several foreign students studying with us. This decision will not benefit them," said Archana Singh, Principal, Cambridge School, Kandivali.

"There are several students enrolled in international schools, where parents have transferable jobs. Making Marathi compulsory for them is illogical as we will simply burden the child," she added.

Jose Kurien, Principal, DAV school, Nerul said, "The decision has come very abruptly. There are lots of things being introduced in haste without proper research, and we come to know about it only after it is being introduced."

"We did not get slightest of a hint of something like this. And why should we introduce this in the middle of an academic year?" he asked.

"It is pretty confusing to make Marathi as the second language. Usually, students take Hindi as the second language, which is the national language. If we teach Marathi, what about Hindi? Also, we follow a very well-researched curriculum in the ICSE board. Why do they want us to bring down to the state board level?" Carl Laurie, Principal, Christ Church School, said.