80,803 students failed the Marathi paper in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations conducted by the Maharashtra State Board, raising alarms about the declining proficiency in the state's official language. Out of 10,98,623 registered students, 10,87,699 appeared for the exam, with 10,06,896 passing, resulting in a pass percentage of 92.57%. The failure rate, nearly 8%, has sparked discussions among educationists regarding the diminishing command of Marathi among schoolchildren. Notably, 4,13,917 students opted for Marathi as a second or third language, with 13,741 failing. This trend is particularly concerning given that Marathi has recently been designated a classical language by the Indian government. Experts attribute the decline in language skills to various factors, including changes in examination patterns and a lack of qualified teachers. Renowned Marathi author Tara Bhawalkar highlighted the role of parents in fostering language skills at home, urging them to communicate in Marathi. Laxmikant Deshmukh, chairman of the official language advisory committee, emphasized the need for stronger government policies to enhance Marathi-medium education. Language activist Deepak Pawar echoed these sentiments, advocating for comprehensive reforms in language education.