New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan escalated the political dispute between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by writing to Chief Minister MK Stalin Friday, urging him to “rise above political differences”, and stated that it is inappropriate for the State to view the policy with a “myopic vision”.
The Tamil Nadu government has been refusing to sign an MoU with the Centre to implement the PM Schools for Rising India (PM-Shri) scheme, which aims to upgrade 14,500 schools, benefiting 1.8 million students, and establish these institutions as model schools that embody the spirit of NEP 2020, citing objections to the “imposition of the three-language formula”.
As a result, the Centre has withheld over Rs 2,000 crore in funds to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, the largest initiative in school education. The funds have also been withheld for Kerala and West Bengal, who have not yet signed MoUs to adopt the PM-SHRI scheme.
Tamil Nadu has also been vocal opposing various other reforms announced under the NEP 2020 including the recently revised UGC draft norms on appointment of Vice Chancellors and faculty members in higher education institutions.
The recent standoff began last week when Pradhan urged Tamil Nadu to comply with the Indian Constitution and the three-language policy, now mandated by law, during the Kashi Tamil Sangamam event in Varanasi. This sparked a war of words between the two sides, prompting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin who said Centre cannot “blackmail” them into accepting central schemes like PM-SHRI and the three-language formula, envisaged under the NEP, by holding back Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds.
Stalin also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting intervention, and calling the linking of SSA funds with the implementation of NEP and the PM SHRI initiative, “fundamentally unacceptable”.
In his letter Friday, Pradhan, emphasised that it is “inappropriate” for Tamil Nadu to view NEP 2020 with a “myopic vision” and to “spin progressive” educational reforms into threats to sustain its political narratives. He urged the state government to rise above politics and prioritise policies that equip students with knowledge, skills, and opportunities for the future.
“The letter sent to the Hon’ble Prime Minister is a complete negation of the spirit of cooperative federalism, promoted by the Modi government. The policy does not advocate the imposition of any language. Many non-BJP states have implemented the progressive policies of NEP despite political differences. NEP 2020 aims to broaden the horizon, not narrow them,” Pradhan said
“I would, therefore, request you to rise above political differences and look into the matter holistically keeping in mind the interest of our young learners,” he added.
In response to Pradhan’s letter, Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said, “It would have been more appropriate if they had consulted educationalists from states excelling in education while framing the NEP. Instead, after the policy was set, they continued to send letter after letter to the state government.”
“The central minister’s letter feels like casting a bait and waiting to see if any fish bites,” he said while speaking to the media.
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‘No question of imposing any language’
In his letter, Pradhan emphasised that the central tenet of NEP 2020 is its profound and unwavering respect for India’s diverse linguistic heritage. The policy ensures that every student receives quality education in their mother tongue, underscoring that Tamil is not only a regional identity but a national treasure.
“Let me unequivocally state that there is no question of imposing any language on any state or community. NEP 2020 upholds the principle of linguistic freedom, ensuring that students continue to learn in the language of their choice. In fact, one of the core objectives of the policy is to revive and strengthen the teaching of Indian languages, including Tamil, which have been gradually sidelined in formal education over the decades,” he stated.
He said that the three-language policy, central to India’s education framework since 1968, has long been under-implemented, leading to a decline in the teaching of Indian languages in schools.
“Over time, this has resulted in an over-reliance on foreign languages, limiting students’ exposure to their linguistic roots. NEP 2020 seeks to correct this historical oversight by ensuring that every Indian language, including Tamil, receives its rightful place in education,” the minister said.
Pradhan said that the continued opposition to NEP 2020 for political reasons deprives students, teachers, and educational institutions in Tamil Nadu of the immense opportunities and resources that this policy offers.
“The policy is designed to be flexible, allowing states to customise its implementation to suit their unique educational needs. Moreover, centrally-supported programmes such as Samagra Shiksha are aligned with NEP 2020. Also, PM SHRI schools have been conceptualised to be NEP exemplar schools,” he said.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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instead of learning 3rd language, centre can improve existing sytem . studing 3 language wont get any benfit.. dont create any white caller job offers . it create paani puri selling, pakkoda selling, tamilian can sell dosa in delhi…
Maybe the third language doesn’t have to be Hindi but something like Hindi or a South Indian language or Spanish or French. But all such compromises can be worked out only by people of erudition and culture. We had AZAD and Murli Manohar Joshi earlier but since 2014 there is no one of calibre.
West Bengal must not sign the MoU for PM-SHRI scheme. We. do not want the three-language formula. We are happy and content with the existing two-language formula. Bengali, being our mother tongue, is our pride and identity. English is the global language of commerce and industry and is therefore essential.
But we will not accept Hindi language in our state. As it is, our cities like Kolkata, Howrah, Asansol and Siliguri are overrun with Hindi-speaking litterbugs.