Tamil Nadu Education Minister Anbil Mahesh on Friday hailed the State Education Policy (SEP) and criticised the AIADMK, alleging the party would “roll out the red carpet” for the Centre’s three-language policy if it returned to power.
The DMK-led state government has officially adopted a two-language policy under the SEP, rejecting the Centre’s three-language formula in the National Education Policy (NEP). Speaking to reporters, Mahesh said, “If the AIADMK comes to power, do you think they will stand by the two-language policy? They will give a red carpet to the Union government.”
Highlighting key differences between the SEP and NEP, Mahesh noted that under the SEP, students from Classes 1 to 8 will automatically be promoted, unlike in the NEP, which mandates public examinations for Classes 3, 5, and 8 with reappear provisions for those who fail. He argued that the NEP’s three-language system would disadvantage Tamil Nadu students, particularly in Hindi and Sanskrit.
Mahesh also accused the Union government of politicising education and praised the SEP as an indigenous model tailored to the state’s needs, incorporating modern initiatives such as AI-based learning, integration of Kalvi TV with the Manarkeni App, and a “home-as-classroom” concept.
Chief Minister MK Stalin, who formally released the SEP at the Anna Centenary Library Auditorium in Chennai, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the two-language policy, stating it reflected Tamil Nadu’s “unique character” and aimed to promote critical thinking over rote learning. The policy will also introduce smart classes, integrate physical education with academics, and focus on rational thought.
The SEP, prepared by a committee headed by retired High Court Judge Justice D Murugesan, has been in the works since 2024. Its release follows sustained opposition to the NEP, which the DMK government has denounced as “against social justice” and a vehicle for Hindi imposition.
