A circular, already dispatched to a few schools by the department, states that these students may be taught Math and Science in the English language if the schools are able to provide teachers trained to deliver lectures in English. Prior permission from parents, through the parents-teachers associations, would also be essential.

In semi-English medium schools, at least one of the teachers selected to teach in English should have either completed a Diploma in Education (DEd) in English or should have herself studied in an English medium institution till Standard XII. The circular also states that teachers wishing to be trained now can approach the Maharashtra Council for Educational Research and Training.

The new Math and Science textbooks, to aid such teaching in non-English medium schools, will be prepared by the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbooks, Curricular and Research, Bal Bharati, Pune.

Deputy Secretary for Primary Education Nanasaheb Raorale said: “This was initiated to help students from vernacular medium schools be at par with their English medium counterparts.” He added that the move would not be made compulsory. “It is up to the schools, the students and the parents to take the decision.”

While several principals around the city are welcoming the move, others point out inadequacies. “Parents admit their children into vernacular medium schools for a specific purpose. If they wanted their wards to study in English the parents could have very well put them in English medium schools,” said A Chavan, principal of Shardashram School in Dadar. Many schools including Shardashram haven’t received the circular as yet. Bapusaheb Rege, the managing trustee and trust superintendent at Balmohan Vidyamandir, said: “I do not know about the circular. I do not think it is going to be of much help since children are already burdened by their studies. If we start teaching our Marathi-medium students in English, it will be an undue burden upon the students as well as the teachers.” He added that it will be necessary for teachers to have a command over English to be able teach Math and Science in the language.

At YCS Marathi school in Bhandup, Principal Satyavan R said that it’s a good move, but finding suitable teachers will be a challenge. “Also,” he said, “I do not see it happening in the coming academic year. A lot of planning needs to be done.”