Last Update: February 28, 2023, 15:59 IST
The bill was passed unanimously by the 182-member house as both the opposition parties – Congress and Aam Aadmi Party – supported its provisions (Representational image)
If a school is found violating the provisions for the first time, it will be liable to pay a fine of Rs 50,000, according to the bill document. The fine for subsequent violations will be Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh
The Gujarat Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill that makes it mandatory to teach Gujarati language in all primary schools in the state, including those affiliated to CBSE, ICSE and IB boards.
If a school is found violating the provisions of the “Gujarat Compulsory Education and Teaching of Gujarati Language Bill, 2023” for more than one year, the government will direct the “board or institution” to cancel the recognition of the school.
Bill introduced by the state Education Minister Kuberbhai Dindor was passed unanimously by the 182-member House as both the opposition parties – Congress and Aam Aadmi Party – supported its provisions.
As per the bill document, schools which are not currently teaching Gujarati will have to introduce Gujarati as an additional language for classes 1 to 8 in phases from the coming academic year 2023-24.
“Every school shall follow the textbooks prescribed by the Government of Gujarat for teaching Gujarati as an additional language. The state government will appoint a deputy director level officer of the education department as the competent authority to implement the provisions of this bill,” said Dindor.
If a school is found violating the provisions for the first time, it will be liable to pay a fine of Rs 50,000, according to the bill document. The fine for subsequent violations will be Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh.
According to the provisions of the Bill, “If any school continues to violate this Act for more than one year, the State Government may direct the Board or the institution to which such school is affiliated to cancel the school.” No penalty shall be imposed without allowing the school concerned to present its explanation.
While the Congress supported the bill, its members criticized the BJP government, accusing it of only “waking up” when a PIL was filed in the High Court for proper implementation of the state government’s 2018 notification. was filed, asking all primary schools to introduce the Gujarati language. As a compulsory subject in primary schools from class 1 to 8.
Prior to this bill, the state government had issued a notification in 2018 for the same purpose. Thus, I urge upon the State Government to ensure that this Bill does not meet the fate of that notification. We hope that you will implement the Act strictly. Besides, the state government should think of increasing the amount of the fine,” said Congress MLA Amit Chavda.
He also urged the state government to introduce Gujarati as a compulsory subject at the secondary and senior secondary levels.
The PIL was filed by an NGO last October, seeking the Gujarat High Court to direct the state government to ‘implement in letter and spirit the 2018 government resolution to make Gujarati language compulsory’ be offered as one of the subjects. Classes 1 to 8 in primary schools.
The petitioner had claimed that primary schools, especially those affiliated to CBSE, ICSE and IB boards, were not introducing Gujarati as a subject in the curriculum, despite the state’s policy.
The HC had in December said that schools affiliated to other boards such as CBSE And ICSE cannot refuse to implement the policy of the state government. The HC had further said that it would issue necessary directions if the government felt ‘helpless’ to compel the schools.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)