Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan accused the Tamil Nadu government of reversing its stance on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 after sharing a letter dated March 15, 2024, written by Tamil Nadu’s then Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena. The letter, addressed to the Union Education Ministry, reportedly showed Tamil Nadu’s willingness to sign an MoU for the PM-Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme, which includes NEP and the three-language policy.
Pradhan’s Allegation of a U-Turn
Pradhan claimed that Tamil Nadu’s agreement to sign the MoU was linked to the release of funds under the Samagra Shiksha (SS) scheme for 2023–24. He alleged that Tamil Nadu had assured the Centre of signing the MoU soon but later changed its stance for political reasons.
“The letter proves that Tamil Nadu agreed to implement NEP 2020 and the three-language policy to secure SS funds,” Pradhan said in a social media post. He questioned the “sudden change” in Tamil Nadu’s position, attributing it to political motives.
“Definitely for political brownies and reviving DMK’s political fortunes. This retrograde politics of DMK is a great disservice to the bright future of Tamil Nadu and its students,” he added.
Tamil Nadu Government’s Response
Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi refuted Pradhan’s claims, accusing him of spreading misinformation. Poyyamozhi maintained that the letter only reflected the state’s intent to evaluate the scheme based on recommendations from the committee.
“There was no sudden change. The March 15, 2024, letter clearly stated that the state would decide based on the recommendations of the committee,” Poyyamozhi said. He reaffirmed Tamil Nadu’s opposition to NEP 2020, stating that it threatens the state’s successful education model.
“Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed NEP 2020 because it undermines our successful education model… If anyone is playing politics, it’s those trying to impose NEP and distort Tamil Nadu’s culture and legacy,” Poyyamozhi added.
Modifications Rejected by the Centre
After the Centre released SS funds for 2023–24 following Meena’s letter, Tamil Nadu proposed signing a modified MoU excluding NEP and the three-language policy. However, Pradhan rejected this proposal in a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on August 30, 2024, insisting that the state must implement all PM-SHRI objectives to receive further funds.
Pradhan Cites Decline in Tamil Medium Enrolment
In a separate post, Pradhan highlighted a sharp decline in Tamil medium enrolment, using data from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+). He stated that Tamil medium enrolment dropped from 65.87 lakh in 2018–19 to 46.83 lakh in 2023–24—a decrease of over 19.05 lakh students in five years.
Pradhan claimed that 67% of students in Tamil Nadu are now enrolled in English medium schools. He argued that this reflects a colonial mindset, where English is seen as a gateway to social status and employment, while Indian languages are viewed as outdated.
- Tamil enrolment in government-aided schools fell by 7.3 lakh over five years.
- English medium enrolment in government schools rose from 3.4 lakh to 17.7 lakh over the same period.
Pradhan described this shift as a result of misguided education policies and accused Tamil Nadu of failing to protect its linguistic heritage.
Stalin Defends Tamil Nadu’s Opposition to NEP
Chief Minister MK Stalin defended Tamil Nadu’s opposition to NEP, stating that the policy threatens the state’s education system. He argued that NEP’s push for centralised exams, such as NEET, and its focus on privatisation would harm Tamil Nadu’s public education system.
“Injecting communalism, privatisation of education, public exams for kids, and NEET-like tests for all courses are some of the reasons for opposing NEP,” Stalin said.
He warned that adopting NEP would disrupt the state’s education model and create unequal opportunities for students.
Political and Educational Implications
The dispute over NEP and PM-SHRI reflects deeper political tensions between the Centre and opposition-led states. Tamil Nadu and other non-NDA states argue that NEP threatens regional autonomy over education and imposes a one-size-fits-all model. The Centre’s decision to link SSA funding to PM-SHRI compliance has added to the controversy, with Tamil Nadu accusing the Centre of using financial pressure to enforce NEP.
As Tamil Nadu stands firm against NEP, the political and educational ramifications could influence how other opposition states approach central education policies.
