The New Education Policy presented at the end of last month is bringing about some changes the first time in over 30 years. The proposed policy includes major reforms including, changing the 10+2+3 system to 5+3+3+4 formula, board exams focusing on the application of knowledge rather than rote learning, introducing coding early on in the curriculum, and adopting a three-language policy.
Many people were quite happy with these reforms meant to modernize our education system, but some were disgruntled. On Monday, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami, rejected the three-language policy mentioned in the new National Education Policy (NEP). The CM said that schools in the state will instead continue to follow the two-language policy.
Previous CMs- Annadurai, MG Ramachandran, and J Jayalalithaa- have also been against this three-language policy in the past, opposing the imposition of Hindi in the curriculum. Annadurai passed a resolution in 1968 in the state Legislative Assembly to follow only the two-language policy. In 1965, the decision of the Centre to make Hindi India's official language which led to people protesting in TN, Palaniswami said.
"The current government which follows the footsteps of these great leaders had strongly opposed the three-language policy when the draft of the NEP was released." Palaniswami was quoted saying.
The NEP states the implementation of the three-language formula to promote multilingualism and national unity. The policy read, "No language will be imposed on any state. The three languages learned by children will be the choices of states, regions, and of course, the students themselves, so long as at least two of the three languages are native to India."
Palaniswami stated, "Though the three-language policy has been mentioned in the National Education Policy 2020, this government running in the name of Honourable Amma will never allow three-language policy in Tamil Nadu and will continue to follow the two-language policy in education."
In regards to this opposition and his decision, he has written to PM Narendra Modi and requested him to reconsider this policy and to allow states to implement policies they see fit.
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