Dharmendra Pradhan in attack mode against DMK over NEP, says Tamil enrolment declining in Tamil Nadu schools

New Delhi: Attacking the Tamil Nadu government over its stand on the new National Education Policy (NEP), Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday accused the DMK headed government of creating "fear psychosis" about the three-language formula while doing little to promote Tamil in the state.

Replying to a debate on the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha, Pradhan said that the country wants to progress with Tamil Nadu as its growth engine.

Criticising the DMK government, he said: "You cannot make a fool of Tamil Nadu people. I am ready to accept but don't deny the opportunity for youngsters of Tamil Nadu. Don't be so sematic, don't be so small. Please come out of old ideas. We all have to create a new country."

Unfazed by attacks from Opposition parties, the minister said that youngsters from Tamil Nadu should not be denied the opportunity to grow and that he is ready to face any personal attacks from the DMK government.

Pointing out that 67 per cent of students are now in English medium schools in Tamil Nadu, he said Tamil medium enrolment has dropped from 54 per cent (2018-19) to 36 per cent (2023-24). Tamil enrolment fell by 7.3 lakh in government-aided schools, reflecting a deep shift in preference.

Tamil language is declining and colonial language is increasing in Tamil Nadu government schools, he said and asserted the central government is not trying to impose any language on any state.

While the students are increasingly opting for English in the state, the Tamil Nadu government is questioning the need for the three-language formula, he said.

"Nobody is imposing anything on anyone. This is a democratic society and the order of the time is you have to be multilingual," Pradhan said.

"I am proud of the Tamil language. What is your opposition to NEP? It is advocating that the medium of instruction till class 5 should be Tamil language. We are promoting Sengol and that is our understanding of the Tamil language," Pradhan said.

"In Tamil Nadu, the medium of instruction should be Tamil. This is in NEP. I am not against English. The student has to go to the international market. They must learn and understand English as we have to compete globally," he added.