The Story So Far
Disagreement between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over the three-language policy in schools under NEP 2020.
Tamil Nadu views the policy as an attempt at Hindi imposition and prefers its two-language policy (Tamil and English).
Union government insists on compliance to release funds tied to Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
Constitutional Provisions
Hindi is the official language of the Union, with English continuing for official use since 1963.
States can choose their own official language(s), including Hindi.
The Union is responsible for promoting Hindi as a medium of expression.
The Three-Language Policy
Introduced in NEP 1968, mandating Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.
Tamil Nadu has continued its two-language policy (Tamil and English).
NEP 2020 allows flexibility, where states can choose the three languages to be taught, but at least two must be Indian languages.
Issues
ASER reports reveal poor learning outcomes, with a significant portion of students struggling with reading and basic numeracy skills.
The expenditure on education is below the NEP 2020 target of 6% of GDP, with 85% of funding coming from states.
There are concerns about resource constraints in schools affecting education quality.
The Way Forward
Focus on improving teaching in local languages, English, and foundational numeracy skills.
English proficiency is important for global competitiveness, while learning more Indian languages is beneficial.
With rising urbanisation and migration, the need to learn additional languages will grow.
There should be a discussion on granting more autonomy to states regarding education policy, given regional diversities and expenditure share.
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