TN reaffirms opposition to NEP, vows to resist Hindi imposition despite Centre withholding funds
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has once again asserted its firm opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, reiterating that it will not implement the policy under any circumstances, even if it means losing central funding under key education schemes.
This reaffirmation comes in the wake of a written reply in the Lok Sabha by the Union Ministry of Education, which stated that no funds have been released to Tamil Nadu or Kerala under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan or PM-SHRI schemes for the fiscal year 2024–25.
Speaking on the issue, Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi shared a screenshot of a 2016 post on social media made by late DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, in which he had warned against the dangers of the NEP.
9 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்னர் இதே நாளில்தான் இந்திய ஒன்றியத்திற்கே பாடம் புகட்டும் விதமாக தேசிய கல்விக் கொள்கையின் அபாயத்தை எடுத்துரைத்தார் முத்தமிழ் அறிஞர் கலைஞர் அவர்கள்.
— Anbil Mahesh (@Anbil_Mahesh) July 23, 2025
அவர் கொடுத்த “மதயானை” எனும் தலைப்பையும், அவரின் வழிகாட்டுதலையும் எடுத்துக்கொண்டு, கழகத் தலைவர்-மாண்புமிகு… pic.twitter.com/i4hocDR1er
“It was on this day nine years ago, our leader Karunanidhi spoke about the danger of the NEP by imparting a lesson to the whole of India. We oppose the NEP and we won’t accept the policy,” Mahesh added.
He maintained that that Tamil Nadu will never implement NEP even if it meant foregoing funds from the Centre.
Tamil Nadu has been following a two-language policy of Tamil and English since 1968. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the ruling DMK have clarified that their objection is not to the Hindi language itself, but to what they see as a deliberate attempt to impose it on non-Hindi-speaking states. Stalin has previously criticised the NEP, describing it as a “Hindutva policy” that prioritises Hindi promotion over the country’s holistic development.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
