After making Marathi language a mandatory subject for all English medium schools irrespective of the board they are affiliated to, the state education department has now asked all non-English medium schools to introduce functional English during classes, starting from Std I. As part of the move, teachers are to use more English words while teaching instead of using the vernacular, in a bid to help these students in adapting to English during higher studies as well as daily life. The idea is also to retain parents’ interests in non-English medium schools by providing functional English knowledge at a young age.

At non-English medium schools, English language is a mandatory subject from Std I.