Chennai: Amid stiff protests from the Opposition parties to the Central government’s proposed triple-language system in schools across India, Tamilnadu Minister for School Education, K A Sengottaiyan, today clarified that dual-language method of education will continue in the State.
“Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has written to the Centre stating that Tamilnadu will continue to have two-language mode in the State,” Sengottaiyan said.
Senior Minister Sellur Raju pins his hopes on the Chief Minister. “CM Edappadi Palanisami will look after the new draft of trilingual system of education put forth by the National Education Policy committee,” he stated.
The proposed policy has received strong opposition from several politicians in the State.
“The DMK will oppose in Parliament if any language, not just Hindi, is thrust upon us,” said DMK MP Kanimozhi to reporters at Chennai airport this morning.
She further stated that the party would not allow any policy that is against a specific language.
AMMK founder, T T V Dhinakaran, took to Twitter to condemn the move. His tweet, roughly translated, reads, ‘The order by Central government to include Hindi as a mandatory subject till class eight is condemnable.’
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said, “Forcing Hindi in Tamilnadu is like setting a warehouse on fire.” He added that the party would do what it takes to oppose the move.
MNM founder, Kamal Haasan, stated that learning the language cannot be made compulsory.
“I have acted in Hindi films; my opinion is that nothing should be enforced and people should decide what they can learn,” he said.
WHAT IS IT?
The National Education Policy 2019, drafted by an expert committee, states that the non-Hindi speaking States in India would include the regional language, English and Hindi, while the parts where Hindi is spoken would have English and one of the modern Indian language in addition to Hindi.
‘Students will be required to attain proficiency in discussing their major in at least one Indian language through an appropriate written project or presentation in that language,’ the policy says.
As part of it, several new policy initiatives for promoting internationalisation of higher education, strengthening quality open and distance learning, technology integration at all levels of education, adult and lifelong learning and initiatives to enhance participation of under-represented groups, and eliminate gender, social category and regional gaps in education outcomes are recommended.