Gujarat Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday to ensure the teaching and learning of Gujarati as one of the languages in all schools across the state. The schools failing to do so would be liable to pay penalty of upto 2 lakh rupees and even cancellation of its affiliation.
The bill which is being called ‘Gujarat Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Gujarati Language Bill, 2023,’ has been passed with a majority in the State’s Assembly on Tuesday. It will make teaching and learning Gujarati compulsory in schools starting from standard 1 to 8 across the state.
It will be implemented in a phased manner from the academic year 2023-24. The bill has been made a provision of penalty for those schools which contravenes the provisions of the act for a period of 1 month for the first time, however, the school shall be liable to pay a fine of rupees fifty thousand.
Similarly, if the school contravenes the provisions of the act for the second time for a month, then it shall be liable for a penalty of 1 lakh rupees. However, if contravening continues for the third time, thereafter, the school shall be liable to pay a sum of rupees 2 lakh as fine.
Apart from aforesaid punishments, the bill also has a provision to cancel the affiliation of the school if the school contravenes the act beyond the period of one year.
The bill also has an exemption part which states that, “In case of students with domicile outside Gujarat, who are studying in the state may be granted an exemption by the concerned school on the written request of student’s parent with valid reasons.”
According to the bill, an officer will be appointed not below the rank of Deputy Director in the office of the Directorate of primary education to be the competent authority to implement the policy decision.