Watch| MK Stalin Rolls Out New Education Policy for State: 'Only Tamil and English to Continue'

In the backdrop of the raging debate on language policy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday released the state's new education policy, reiterating the sustained support for the two-language formula — Tamil and English — in schools.

The newly crafted state education policy was announced by Stalin in the Anna Centenary Library Auditorium.

"By implementing this education policy, we do not want to promote memorization but critical thinking and real education. Physical education will also be made a priority, in addition to academics. Above all, I would like to assure that we will maintain the two-language policy; it is our stance firm," Stalin asserted, adding that smart classrooms will be implemented as part of the new State Education Policy (SEP).

He also added, "No one will be allowed to interfere with education. No pirooku (reactionary thought) will be tolerated in our education system. Our state policy on education is meant to develop samathuva kalvi (educational equality) and pagutharivu kalvi (rationality-based education). This policy is intended to prepare students to compete on international levels of education."

Emphasizing future ambitions, Stalin stated that the government aims to raise the percentage of students joining higher education to 100 percent from the current 75 percent, ANI quoted.

The SEP was drafted by a government-appointed committee, led by retired High Court Judge Justice D Murugesan, which sent its suggestions in 2024. With the committee's efforts, the policy has now been enacted and was formally launched on Friday, ANI reports.

This comes after months of agitation against the Central government's National Education Policy (NEP). The DMK-run Tamil Nadu government has been opposed to the NEP all along, calling it "against social justice" and aimed at implementing Hindi in the state.

Tamil Nadu has refused to go ahead with the NEP, specifically fighting the Centre's three-language formula, centralised entrance exams, and early standardised testing.

Last month in May, the state government turned to the Supreme Court for relief in the alleged withholding of around Rs 2,200 crore of central funds, which it blamed on the rejection of the NEP. The petition is for the court to hold that the NEP 2020 and the PM SHRI Schools Scheme are not obligatory to Tamil Nadu unless the state formally agrees to implement them.