TN CM unveils state’s education policy in response to Centre’s NEP

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin unveiled the state’s new education policy on Friday in response to the Centre’s New Education Policy(NEP) that he considers to be against social justice and aimed at ‘imposing’ Hindi upon the state. There would be no public exam for Class XI, as per the Tamil Nadu State Education Policy - School Education released by the Chief Minister at the Anna Centenary Library, in Chennai. The policy is viewed as an alternative to the Centre’s National Education Policy. With this, Tamil Nadu becomes the first state to introduce its own education policy based on the set of recommendations made by a 14-member panel headed by retired Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, D Murugesan.

"Through this education policy, we don't want students just to mug up, but think and get educated. Physical education will be taught along with studies. Importantly, I want to say firmly that we will follow two two-language policy and it is our firm policy," Stalin said. The Chief Minister informed that smart classes will be introduced under the newly released SEP.

"We will never allow anyone to stop education. We will not allow pirooku (reactionary thinking) in our education. Our state education policy aims to create samathuva kalvi (equality) and will be a pagutharivu kalvi (one with a rational thought). This will serve as a platform to compete with international standards of education," Stalin asserted. He said that his government aims for a 100 per cent admission of school students in higher education, which now stands at 75 per cent. "The government, based on the Dravidian model, needs all school students to join higher education. Mother feels happy to see her children study well. 75 per cent of school students joined higher education, and we target 100 per cent to join higher education," the CM said. " This year, 901 students joined premier institutions," Stalin added. This move comes after months of protests by the DMK led government against the

National Education Policy (NEP) promoted by the Centre. The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has consistently opposed the NEP, calling it "against social justice" and an attempt to impose Hindi on the state. Tamil Nadu has refused to implement the NEP.