Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday rejected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's claim that the top performing states were not getting funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme by the Centre as they refused to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Accusing the Tamil Nadu minister of pitting states against each other to make a point over non-implementation of the new NEP, the Union Education Minister said, “Healthy competition among states is always welcome in a democracy. However, pitting states against each other to make a point goes against the spirit of the Constitution and the value of a united India. NEP 2020 has been formulated through a wide range of consultations and is based on the collective wisdom of the people of India.”
Pradhan questioned Stalin's 'principled' opposition to the NEP on the microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
“Are you against education in mother tongue including Tamil? Are you against conducting examinations in Indian languages including Tamil? Are you against making textbooks and content in Indian languages including Tamil? Are you against the holistic, multidisciplinary, equitable, futuristic and inclusive framework of NEP?”, the Union Education Minister posted.
Pradhan further requested the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to put the interests of the students of Tamil Nadu before his (Stalin's) political gains and to implement the NEP.
Earlier in the day, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister criticised the Modi government at the Centre, alleging that it was not providing funds to the state under a central school education programme as the government refused to implement the NEP 2020.
Taking to X Stalin said, “Denying funds to the best performing states for refusing to bow to the #NEP, while generously rewarding those who fail to deliver on the targets – Is this how the Union BJP government plans to promote quality education and equality? I leave it to the wisdom of our nation and our people to decide!”
