TN rejects 3-language formula; BJP asks to reconsider

NEW EDUCATION POLICY

CHENNAI: The ruling AIADMK in the Tamil Nadu on Monday rejected the Centre’s three-language formula proposed in the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 while strongly backing state’s decades old two-language policy.

“The three-language formula in the NEP is painful and saddening. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) should reconsider the three-language policy,” Palaniswami said.

Taking strong exception to the proposal, he said in a statement the state has been following the two-language policy for several decades and that there will be no change in it.

His assertion came amidst opposition demand, including from DMK, that the government should reject the three-language formula proposed in NEP and stick to its two-language policy.

Incidentally, ahead of today’s [Monday’s] meeting, he convened to discuss the matter with his senior cabinet colleagues, the Opposition bloc led by DMK wrote to the chief minister, asking him to adopt a Cabinet resolution against the new NEP.

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

said.

Separately, the Opposition DMK led alliance in Tamil Nadu-comprising the Congress, MDMK, VCK, CPM, CPI and MMK, collectively wrote a letter to Palaniswami asking him to pass a resolution against the new NEP in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state asked the CM to reconsider the ruling AIADMK’S opposition to the three-language formula proposed in the New Education Policy, saying the poor and the middle class in the state wanted it so that they can be on par with students of CBSE schools and other states.

The two-language policy had been in place for the last five decades and its continuation would take the state backward by 50 years, BJP Tamil Nadu unit Vicepresident Vanathi Srinivasan claimed.