Maharashtra State Board Schools to Align Academic Year with CBSE Calendar
In a major shift, Maharashtra state board schools will soon transition from their current June-to-April academic schedule to an April-to-March cycle, aligning with the calendar followed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The new schedule will see the academic year commence on April 1 and conclude on March 31, with summer holidays set between May 1 and June 14.
While the exact implementation year either 2025-26 or 2026-27 is yet to be finalized, the steering committee has approved the State Curriculum Framework (SCF) for classes 3 to 12. This framework incorporates substantial changes in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), including the adoption of a large portion of the CBSE syllabus.
Rahul Rekhawar, Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), explained, “Given the changes in the curriculum, we need to adjust the workload accordingly. The steering committee has decided to adopt the CBSE academic calendar to help teachers complete the syllabus on time.”
As part of the reform, state board schools will also start using textbooks from the National Institute of Education, Research and Training (NCERT) and CBSE, with Balbharati providing translations into regional languages as needed.
However, the proposed changes have sparked controversy. Mahendra Ganpule, a former principal who attended a recent meeting between school education minister Deepak Kesarkar and teachers’ organizations, raised concerns about the feasibility of the new academic calendar. “We objected to the calendar change, as the state board’s schedule is based on local weather conditions. Implementing the new calendar across the state will be challenging,” Ganpule remarked.
The challenge is particularly significant for schools outside the Vidarbha region, which currently start their academic year on June 15. A shift to an April start would require considerable adjustments.
Addressing these concerns, Rekhawar pointed out that CBSE follows a uniform calendar nationwide, including in regions with extreme weather. “During our discussions with teachers’ organizations, it was agreed that implementing the new schedule is feasible. We will take all necessary measures to ensure students’ safety where needed,” he assured.
Despite the challenges posed by regional climatic variations, Rekhawar emphasized that the transition to the CBSE-aligned academic calendar is expected to improve curriculum completion, requiring careful planning and adjustments by school authorities to ensure smooth implementation.