Tamil Nadu rejects 3-language formula in new National Education Policy

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday rejected 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, 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.

"Tamil Nadu will never allow Centre's three- language policy. The state will continue with it's 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 (Narendra Modi) should reconsider the three-language policy," he said, adding the Centre should allow the states to implement their own policy on the subject. Palaniswami said there will be no change to the two- language formula which the state had adopted decades ago.

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.