CHENNAI: The draft new education policy of the Central government, which has been flayed by various political parties and others in the State, came up for discussion in the State Assembly on Tuesday. Higher Education Minister K P Anbazhagan and School Education Minister P Benjamin on Tuesday asserted in the Assembly that the State government would not allow imposition of Sanskrit and Hindi at any time and that the interests of the minorities would be protected.
Responding to the allegation of Thangam Thennarasu (DMK) during the discussion on the demands for grants for the higher education and school education departments, the ministers clarified the State’s stand on the issue. Welcoming the government’s stand on this issue, the Leader of the Opposition, M K Stalin said a resolution should be adopted by the Assembly on this.
“Though the report of the committee had as many as 214 aspects, the Centre had sent only the gist of the draft new education policy. The State government would convey its views on this within the prescribed time after examining it thoroughly. The interests of Tamil Nadu will be fully protected,” Anbazhagan asserted.
“The State government will ensure the continuation of best practices of the Tamil Nadu Education Department. Besides, it would also safeguard the Tamil language and culture and their antiquity. The State government would not give any room for imposition of Sanskrit and Hindi,” Anbazhagan added.
The School Education Minister also gave a similar reply. Thennarasu said, usually the education policy of the Central government would be evolved by a committee of educational experts. But this time, the panel was headed by a retired IAS officer. The Centre had released only “inputs” instead of the complete report of the committee. The new education policy would snatch the powers of the State government.
Stating that the new education policy proposed uniform syllabus for the entire country and SSLC and Plus Two examinations would be common for all states, he said, “The proposed policy prevents students from taking up subjects in which they are interested. In a way, the new policy attempts to impose Kula Kalvi thittam (caste-based education or hereditary education) on the students,” the MLA added.