Tamil Nadu will not implement NEP even for Rs 10,000 crore: CM MK Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has reiterated his strong opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP), asserting that the state will not adopt it even if the central government offers Rs 10,000 crore.

His resistance, he emphasised, is not solely due to the alleged imposition of Hindi but also because of broader concerns about its impact on students and social justice.

Speaking at a Parent-Teachers Association event in Cuddalore, Stalin clarified that while Tamil Nadu is not against any language, it will continue to oppose its forced implementation. He described the NEP as regressive, warning that it could drive students away from schools by introducing unnecessary hurdles, such as public examinations for students in classes 3, 5, and 8; a common entrance test for admissions to arts and science colleges; and denial of financial aid to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Backward Class (BC) students.

"The Centre claims Tamil Nadu will receive Rs 2,000 crore if we implement the NEP, but even if they offer Rs 10,000 crore, we will not agree to it. I will not push Tamil Nadu back 2,000 years by implementing this policy," Stalin stated.

He also criticised the policy, alleging that it prioritises promoting Hindi rather than improving education. "The NEP is designed to nurture Hindi, not education. It is disguised as an education policy because, if presented directly, it would be strongly opposed," he added.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan dismissed Stalin’s claims, accusing him of creating a "false narrative" for political reasons. Speaking to NDTV, Pradhan argued that Tamil Nadu had initially agreed to implement NEP 2020 but later reversed its stance.

Under the three-language formula outlined in NEP, every student must study at least three languages. The Centre defends this policy, stating that previous education models neglected Indian languages and caused an over-reliance on foreign languages. It claims that NEP aims to restore regional languages like Tamil to their rightful place in education.

Pradhan insisted that the policy does not mandate Hindi, questioning why Tamil Nadu was resisting an approach followed by most Indian states since the 1960s. "Tamil Nadu has followed a two-language formula, but what about students in border areas who wish to learn Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, or Odia for better employment opportunities?" he asked.

The dispute also extends to education funding. Stalin alleged that the Centre was using financial coercion by linking Rs 2,000 crore from the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan - a scheme integrating vocational and general education - to the state's acceptance of NEP.

Pradhan denied these accusations, calling Stalin’s remarks "politically motivated" and dismissing the claim of Hindi imposition as "fear-mongering". He also highlighted that Tamil Nadu was losing out on another Rs 2,000 crore under the PM SHRI scheme due to its rigid stance.

Additionally, he clarified that the PM-Poshan (mid-day meal) scheme was still operational in Tamil Nadu, countering claims that funds had been withheld.