Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Friday (February 21, 2025) accused Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of attempting to coax Tamil Nadu into complying with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Commenting on Mr. Pradhan’s letter to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, urging Tamil Nadu to adopt the NEP, Mr. Poyyamozhi likened the Centre’s approach to throwing the bait to see if the State would take it. “Tamil Nadu would not fall for such tactics. This is not just a letter or a policy — it affects 43 lakh students in Tamil Nadu. Stop blackmailing us. We reject PM SHRI and stand firm in our opposition to NEP 2020,” he asserted.
“You have framed a policy without consulting us, and when we oppose it, you claim we misunderstood. This is nothing but an attempt to lure us into compliance,” he told mediapersons in Tiruchi.
He reaffirmed Tamil Nadu’s firm opposition to NEP 2020, particularly its three-language policy and structural changes, which he said would increase dropout rates and reshape historical narratives to align with the Union government’s perspective.
“Our Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stands as a fortress protecting Tamil Nadu’s rights. The Centre is withholding funds to blackmail us,” he charged.
‘Won’t let T.N.’s history be distorted’
Mr. Poyyamozhi also raised concerns about “historical distortions” in school curriculum under the NEP, warning it could be used to misrepresent Tamil Nadu’s leaders and historical events. “If we accept the NEP, it will pave the way for rewriting history. Leaders whom we revere could be portrayed negatively, while others with questionable legacies might be glorified as martyrs. We will not allow Tamil Nadu’s history and identity to be altered,” he said.
Listing out the reasons for Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the NEP, Mr. Poyyamozhi pointed out that the State has followed the two-language policy since 1968, introduced by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai following the anti-Hindi imposition agitations. Imposing a third language undermines this linguistic and cultural identity. Tamil Nadu has one of the highest literacy rates in India. The State’s students excel nationally and globally in medicine, engineering, IT, and research fields. The two-language model ensures both regional and global connectivity, he said.
‘Major parties have opposed Hindi imposition’
Education is on the concurrent list of the Constitution, allowing States to design policies suited to their needs, he said, adding that the three-language formula violates this federal principle and infringes on Tamil Nadu’s rights.
“The three-language policy is an indirect attempt to impose Hindi. Leaders and former Chief Ministers like Annadurai, M.G. Ramachandran, and Jayalalithaa had firmly opposed such attempts. All major political parties in Tamil Nadu — including DMK and AIADMK — support the two-language policy. The State’s people have consistently rejected the three-language formula for over eight decades,” he maintained.
Tamil Nadu was exempted from the Official Languages Act of 1963, recognising its distinct linguistic identity. NEP 2020 violates this long-standing legal precedent, the Minister added.
Besides, forcing students to learn a third language — ”especially Hindi” — will increase academic burden without adding real benefits, he said. Tamil Nadu has never opposed Hindi or other languages, but insists that learning them must be voluntary.
NEP 2020 introduces public exams for classes 3, 5, and 8, along with vocational training from class 6. These measures could increase dropout rates. Tamil Nadu’s dropout rate has already come down from 16% to 5% after the DMK returned to power, he said.
Instead of forcing policies on the States, the Union government should respect Tamil Nadu’s proven education model and work in collaboration with the State, Mr. Poyyamozhi said.
