Tamil Nadu Rejects NEP’s Three-Language Formula, to Continue Dual Language Policy

Chief minister E.K. Palaniswami described the three-language formula in the New Education Policy as ‘painful and saddening’, asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider it.

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday rejected the Centre’s three-language formula proposed in the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and said there will not be any deviation from the two-language policy being followed in the state.

Taking strong exception to the proposal for the three-language formula in the NEP, chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami who chaired a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat here, said the state has been following the two-language policy for several decades and there will be no change in it.

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“Tamil Nadu will never allow the Centre’s three-language policy. The state will continue with its dual language policy (of Tamil and English),” the chief minister said.

“The three-language formula in the NEP is painful and saddening. The prime minister should reconsider the three-language policy,” he said, adding the Centre should allow the states to implement their own policy on the subject.

Also read: Here’s Why You Can Rejoice Over the New NEP. And Why You Cannot

Palaniswami said there will be no change to the two-language formula which the state had adopted decades ago.

Teaching up to Class V in the mother tongue or regional language and lowering the stakes of board exams are part of the sweeping reforms in the new NEP unveiled last week.

Watch | Explained: Everything You Need to Know about the New Education Policy

The Wire’s Srishti Srivastava speaks to RTE’s national convenor Ambarish Rai and DU teachers Laxman Yadav and Abha Dev Habib.

The Union cabinet has approved the new education policy. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) will now be called Ministry of Education. Union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar told the press that because the education policy has not been changed for 34 years, it was essential to adopt a new one. The earlier policy was introduced in 1986 and some amendments were made in 1992.

In this report by Srishti Srivastava, The Wire explains every important issue related to the new education policy and understand every change of this policy. She speaks to RTE’s national convenor Ambarish Rai and DU teachers Laxman Yadav and Abha Dev Habib.