TN govt rejects three-language formula in new NEP, says will follow existing two-language policy

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 K Palaniswami after a chairing a meeting of Cabinet colleagues 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.

In a statement issued on Monday, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami opposed the plan on the grounds that such a move would offend sentiments in Tamil Nadu.

Describing the three-language formula as "saddening and painful" the Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to reconsider it and let the states handle it according to their policy. "Our state has implemented the two-language policy for decades, and will continue. I request the Prime Minister to listen to the sentiments of people of Tamil Nadu," the statement said.

"Tamil Nadu will never allow the Centre's three- language policy. The state will continue with it's dual language policy (of Tamil and English)," the chief minister said, adding the Centre should allow the states to implement their own policy on the subject.

The state government's stance comes in the wake of stiff resistance to the plan by opposition parties. DMK party leader M.K. Stalin has been vociferous in his opposition to the plan, which is seen as a ploy to introduce Sanskrit and Hindi languages into the state where Dravidian movements hold sway.

Due to the anti-Hindi and anti-Sanskrit sentiments involved, the issue has the potential to emerge as a poll plank in the next Assembly election against the ruling AIADMK and its ally the BJP.

Teaching up to class 5 in 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.

[ With Inputs from IANS and PTI ]