Tamil Nadu News: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has responded strongly to accusations from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party regarding the establishment of PM SHRI Schools in Tamil Nadu. During a recent session in Parliament, Pradhan shared a letter from the Tamil Nadu school education department, indicating the state's interest in setting up these schools. His comments came after DMK leaders, including Chief Minister MK Stalin, claimed he misled Parliament.

Pradhan accused the DMK government of engaging in political games over the three-language policy outlined in the New Education Policy (NEP). He labelled the ruling party as "dishonest" and claimed they were jeopardising the future of Tamil Nadu's students. "They (DMK) are dishonest. They are not committed to the students of Tamil Nadu. They are ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students. Their only job is to raise language barriers. They are doing politics. They are making mischief. They are undemocratic and uncivilised," he stated in the Lok Sabha.

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In retaliation, the DMK initiated a privilege motion, with MP Kanimozhi NVN Somu requesting action from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The notice asserted that Pradhan’s statements regarding a supposed change in the Tamil Nadu government's stance on PM SHRI Schools were "factually incorrect" and misleading to the house.

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To back his claims, Pradhan posted the letter dated 15 March 2024 from the Tamil Nadu education department, which he believes validates his statements. He remarked, "The DMK may try to distort the truth, but it will eventually come to light." He further accused the DMK of using the language issue as a distraction from their governance failures.

Kanimozhi countered Pradhan's assertions, clarifying that while the state did agree to set up PM SHRI Schools, it was contingent upon recommendations from a committee. "We agreed on the condition that the government would sign the MoU based on the committee's findings," she explained to reporters.

In a further rebuttal, Tamil Nadu's Education Minister Anbil Mahesh defended the state's position. He pointed out that the letter shared by Pradhan indicated a committee would be formed to examine the proposal before any decisions were made. "Those imposing the NEP are the ones playing politics. Tamil Nadu's education system is exemplary and has shown its capability to shape our students' futures," Mahesh stated.

The controversy primarily revolves around the NEP's contentious three-language policy, which Tamil Nadu strongly opposes.

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Pradhan also cited figures from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) to illustrate a decline in Tamil medium enrolments. He reported that enrolments dropped from 6.59 million in 2018-19 to 4.68 million in 2023-24, a decrease of over 1.9 million students. He stated that 67 per cent of students are now in English medium schools and noted a significant increase in English enrolment in government schools.

"The statistics tell a concerning story. The decline in Tamil medium enrolments reflects a shift in preferences, influenced by a colonial mindset," Pradhan argued, suggesting that English is perceived as a pathway to status and job opportunities.

The PM SHRI School initiative is a central government programme aimed at enhancing more than 14,500 schools, managed by various levels of government. Its goals include creating supportive learning environments and ensuring every student has access to quality education.


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