The Linguistic Minorities Forum of Tamil Nadu (LIMFOT) urged Chief Minister MK Stalin to implement the National Educational Policy (NEP 2020) and adopt a three-language formula in schools. Chairman CMK Reddy emphasized that the NEP does not mandate specific languages but encourages states to accommodate minority languages alongside the main state language and English. This aligns with a Supreme Court ruling stating mother tongues should be included in the syllabus. In response, Stalin challenged Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s claims about the constitutionality of the policy, while Minister L Murugan defended the NEP for fostering competitiveness and promoting education in native languages.
Chennai:
The Linguistic Minorities Forum of Tamil Nadu (LIMFOT) reached out to Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday, urging the implementation of the National Educational Policy (NEP 2020) to facilitate the three-language formula in the state’s school education.
CMK Reddy, Chairman of the Linguistic Minorities Forum of Tamil Nadu, highlighted the importance of the three-language formula for integrating minority languages into the school curriculum.
“The NEP 2020 does not state that Hindi, Sanskrit, or any other language must be compulsory. It simply advises that every state should offer three languages to include minority languages alongside the primary state language and English. This is their expectation. Students whose mother tongue is Hindi should have the opportunity to learn it. The inclusion of the mother tongue in the curriculum is what the Supreme Court has indicated,” Mr. Reddy remarked.
On Sunday, Mr. Stalin criticized Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his comments suggesting that Tamil Nadu needs to align with the Indian Constitution regarding the state’s opposition to the NEP language policy.
“Which section of the Indian Constitution mandates the three-language policy? Can the [Union] Education Minister specify?” Mr. Stalin questioned in a post on X.
Previously, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L Murugan, defended Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“The National Education Policy (NEP) was not implemented in a day; it took 40 years of discussions to come into effect. Given the global competitive environment, it’s our duty to equip our youth to face international challenges. Furthermore, the NEP promotes research and enhances student participation in educational progress. The NEP aims to support education in one’s mother tongue, stressing that children should learn in their native language,” he stated to reporters.
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