Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan on Monday has released nine textbooks in accordance with the new curriculum for students from grades one
to three. This comes a day after CBSE implemented three-language policy for classes 9 and 10 too. However, Tamil Nadu School Education Minister A Rajmohan has reiterated that the state will not implement three-language policy and the recently formed TVK government will continue to follow the state's long-held policies. "Two-language policy is not just a policy of the Tamil Nadu government, it is also one of the fundamental principles of the TVK. We are clear that the state will continue to follow the two-language policy and there is no change in that," Tamil Nadu School education minister A Rajmohan told local reporters. The Minister also stated that the state's policy has been designed with the intention that the mother tongue should be taught for students as it is necessary for communicating among the state, and English is needed to communicate internationally. Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed compulsory introduction of a third language in government schools, specifically as the government fears that compulsion of third language could eventually lead to Hindi imposition, i.e. it becoming mandatory in practice. However, NEP 2020 introduced three-language formula. Under the NEP 2020, students are expected to learn three languages. At least two of those languages must be Indian languages, which is what has now been implemented by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) too. Meanwhile, the textbooks release by the Tamil Nadu government have been designed to enable students to learn with ease and understanding, thereby fostering the development of unique individual talents and ensuring the attainment of the expected learning outcomes, an official release stated. These books also take help from stories, songs, and interactive activities to make the learning process more engaging and appealing for children. Additionally, experts have used aesthetically pleasing colour designs and incorporated subject matter that encompasses students’ motor skills, socio-emotional skills, values, and life skills, the release said. Additionally, the Minister has announced that all government, government-aided and private schools will reopened on June 1 after summer vacation. The government has ordered all concerned authorities to ensure that the textbooks are dispatched on time and distribution is completed till the first day of the school.
