7,500 Candidates Await German Classes as Maharashtra Skilled Jobs Project Remains Stalled

Around 7,500 candidates selected for the Maharashtra government’s German job placement project in Mumbai and across the state are still waiting for information on when their language classes will begin, two years after the state signed an agreement with the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

The state school education department had planned to train 10,000 youngsters in the German language under the bilateral agreement. The initiative aimed to create overseas employment opportunities for Maharashtrian youths in sectors including healthcare, hospitality, construction, and engineering.

Shortlisted candidates who completed their document verification process in September 2024 report that they have received no clear updates regarding the next stage. In response to the ongoing delay, more than 25 candidates recently sent letters to several MLAs and MLCs, urging them to raise the issue with the state government.

Candidate Mahesh Sakate noted that although officials repeatedly promised that official language classes would begin as soon as possible, no details have been provided six months later. Candidates stated that they reached out to state education minister Dada Bhuse as well as various legislators, but received no concrete response, leaving their career and academic planning disrupted.

The Maharashtra government had allocated approximately ₹77 crore for the initial phase of the project, which was nodalized through the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). However, according to officials and candidates, a major portion of these funds remained unused and was subsequently returned to the government.

The state had previously planned to open around 200 classrooms for German-language training in 2024 in collaboration with the non-profit Goethe Institut. In July 2025, former SCERT director Rahul Rekhawar undertook a study tour to Germany organized by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office to assess recruitment and language training systems for migrating workers.

Former school education minister Deepak Kesarkar, who was appointed as project coordinator, explained that the scheme requires the formation of a government-backed company to manage implementation and facilitate candidate movement to Germany. Kesarkar stated that the company formation process has not yet commenced from the government side, though state secretaries assured him the process would start soon. Meanwhile, a senior SCERT official indicated that the department is working on the project and plans to make an announcement shortly.