The Centre has withheld funds for the Samagra Shiksha scheme in Tamil Nadu due to the state’s refusal to implement the three-language policy in accordance with the New Education Policy (NEP) of 2020.
- Tamil Nadu currently follows 2 language policy (Tamil and English).
About Three-language Policy
- Objective: To promote multilingualism and strengthen national unity.
- It mandates that students shall learn three languages:
- Two must be native to India.
- The choice of languages is left to states and students.
- Evolution of Policy
- University Education Commission of 1948-49, chaired by Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan: Recommendations of commission led to evolution of three-language formula for school education.
- Kothari Commission (1964-66): Formally proposed the three-language formula.
- Inclusion in Education Policies
- It was incorporated in NEP 1968.
- NEP 1986 & 1992 retained the three-language formula.
- NEP 2020 also retained the three-language formula with more flexibility.
- No explicit mention of Hindi instead two regional languages.
