Tamil Nadu unveils State Education Policy, commits to 2-language formula in departure from NEP

“We will not allow pirooku (reactionary thinking) in our education. Our State Education Policy aims to create samathuva kalvi (education for equality) and pagutharivu kalvi (education with rational thought),” Stalin said.

Tamil Nadu has become the first state to formally adopt its own comprehensive school education policy in direct contrast to the Centre’s NEP — an act seen as both pedagogical and political.

The 230-page policy document was developed by a 14-member committee headed by retired Delhi High Court Chief Justice D Murugesan. “Designed through extensive consultation and contextual analysis, the policy outlines a comprehensive, child-centric vision that is at once inclusive, forward-looking, and deeply anchored in Tamil Nadu’s unique cultural, linguistic, and social heritage,” the document read.

The policy scraps board examinations for class 11 with immediate effect — a move that reverses a 2017 decision by the then-AIADMK government. “Conducting public examinations for Classes 10, 11, and 12 consecutively would have an adverse impact on the mental health of students,” Stalin said, recalling his earlier criticism of the earlier exam structure.

The policy sets a target to ensure that all students complete school and move into higher education. Stalin noted that 72% of students who passed class 12 this year had already enrolled in higher education. “We hope the number will soon reach 100%,” he said. During the launch, he also felicitated 901 students from state-run schools who had secured admission to premier institutions, including IITs and NITs.

According to the document, at the heart of the new policy lies a commitment to social equity, academic excellence, and holistic development. The vision —- “To build an inclusive, equitable, resilient, and future-ready school education system in Tamil Nadu that nurtures every child’s potential, ensures holistic development, upholds social justice, and empowers learners with 21st-century skills and values rooted in Tamil Nadu’s rich cultural heritage — enabling them to thrive as compassionate, confident, and responsible citizens in a rapidly evolving world.”

The policy is structured across key thematic areas — foundational literacy and numeracy, curriculum reform, teacher training, safe and inclusive schools, digital learning, and sustainable infrastructure. The government’s flagship Ennum Ezhuthum Mission remains central to its literacy goals. “The State will operationalise a mission-mode programme to ensure that every child in classes 1–3 acquires age-appropriate reading, writing, and numeracy skills,” it said.

It also asserted Tamil Nadu’s intention to maintain educational autonomy. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin used the occasion to reiterate the state’s demand to bring education back to the State List, a long-standing call of federalist voices in India. School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said, “The NEP is vidhi (fate), but our SEP is madhi (intellect).”

In a chapter on Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice, the document read, “Rooted in Tamil Nadu’s legacy of social justice, this chapter outlines a powerful agenda to ensure educational equity across caste, gender, geography, and ability.” Under the policy, special attention is given to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, first-generation learners, and children with special needs, with measures ranging from inclusive curriculum and barrier-free infrastructure, scholarships and targeted mentoring.

The Centre’s push to implement the NEP across all states has faced resistance from several quarters. Tamil Nadu has fiercely resisted it, citing its emphasis on Hindi and the three-language formula. In May, the state moved the Supreme Court, alleging that the Union government had withheld Rs 2,291.30 crore in central education funds, including Samagra Shiksha grants, as punishment for Tamil Nadu’s refusal to adopt the NEP. The plea called the move “unconstitutional, arbitrary, and illegal”, and sought 6% annual interest on the withheld amount.

The SEP’s curriculum reforms are ambitious. “The curriculum will be redesigned to be competency-based, experiential, and inquiry-driven, optimising content load while deepening conceptual understanding,” the policy outlines. It integrates Tamil Nadu’s local heritage, environmental literacy, and social-emotional learning while strengthening bilingual education and inclusive pedagogies. Experiential learning, arts-integrated projects, and sports-based activities are promoted across all levels of schooling.

The policy also includes a structured push toward 21st-century skills and digital literacy. “To prepare students for careers and citizenship in the digital age, this chapter lays out a future-ready framework focused on critical thinking, creativity, financial literacy, digital competence, environmental awareness, and global citizenship,” the document notes. Tools like Kalvi TV, the Manarkeni App, and the TN-SPARK programme (focused on AI and robotics) will play a role in the SEP.