Published On : Thu, Sep 22nd, 2016

English medium schools raise alarm over scholarship in Maharashtra

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spcf6The tight impression between English medium schools and Marathi medium schools has recently hit the headlines when the Maharashtra State Council of Education (MSCE) was adamant to issue the booklet which carries the guidance of the scholarship examination only in Marathi language.

English medium schools raised its concern as it discouraged a student from appearing for the scholarship exam and had alleged the state education department for being oblivious to such discrimination.

What angered English medium schools?

Of the 6.66 lakh student, who participated in the scholarship exam in 2014-15, only 13, 250 students from the English medium schools managed to sit in the exam. In a similar fashion, a meager number of students 21, 685 of the 9. 27 lakh students appearing for the class IV scholarship were from English medium schools.

The English medium schools had alleged that the scholarship exam is conducted in favour of the Marathi medium students and their students could hardly even attempt to participate in such beneficial program.

MSCE to take up measure:

Following the concern raised by the English medium schools, the MSCE has decided to modify their scholarship programme in order to provide opportunities for the English medium student as well. However, printing the booklet in bilingual (English and Marathi) was nowhere mentioned.

“Lack of awareness is the reason for many students from English medium schools for not turning up in these exams. Hence, we have decided that every school should tell its students about the exam and the benefits a selected student gets from the government,” said Sukhdev Dere, commissioner of exam council.

The MSCE had held a meeting with the six regions regarding the issue revolving around the scholarship programme in Maharashtra. In his attempt to address the matter, commissioner Sukhdev Dere said, “There are eight regions in the state. We have already held meetings of six regions and will be taking meetings with officials from the remaining two regions – Amravati and Nagpur. We have told them to create awareness about the exams in their regions by organizing a meeting of principals and the authorities.”