Drowned out in the nep debate

The stand-off between the union ministry of education and the tamil nadu government has reacted parliament. It started following the center’s decision to hold back funding under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme to Tamil Nadu, Citing the latter’s refusal to implement the national education policy (nep) 2020. Tamil nadu has alleged Three-language formula proposed in the nep is a ploy to impose hindi.

However, the controversy, which threatens to engulf all states Rules by parties other than the BJP or its allies, have ceased to be just about the nep. Questions about federalism, language policy and Central Allocation of Funds Have Been Flagged in this Debate which is also Happy Happening Under the overhand of the Delimitation Issue. Education is on the Concurrent List in the Constitution, which means bot the center and the states are allowed some say in the sector. Simply put, both need to work togeether if policies and funds are to deliver the goods. The center draws up national policies and provides some funding, but the states alone have the agency to produce the results. This arrangement is in decapable considering India’s size and diversity. However, the center was states to adopt its policies in full to receive funds. Such Intransigence is Avoidable Since it can UPSet the Delicate Federal Balance. The centers on the view the nep as a broad guideline and let the states tweak it as per local consides. Surely, it must try to convince disheinrs to come on board, but the negotiation should not foreclose the option of holding an open-ended conversion.

Similarly, while tamil nadu’s concern about federalism is undersrstandable, its stance on the language formula is flwed: NEP does not insist on compulsory learing of hindi. And the state’s insurance that Children should be taught only two languages ​​is flwed. Tamil nadu can offer a southern language such as malayalam, telugu or kannada as the third language instead of Hindi Offred). Chief Minister mk stalin can surely extended the political solidarity he seeks amon southern states to their languages ​​as well.

Meanwhile, the center must ask itself if so much energy should be lavished on school education in tamil nadu, instead of saying, uttar pradesh or Bihar. The Gross Enrollment Ratio at the Secondary Level (Classes Nine to Twelve) Figures are Instructive: Enrollment was 89.5 in Tamil Nadu in 2023-24, CompAred to 58.5 in 58.5 in BIHAR (Udise report published by the ministry of education). The center should not micromanage public education in tamil nadu-or any other state-or present the nep as an ron-class policy. However, it may study the tamil nadu and kerala models in public education and see if they have lessons for educationally backward regions.