Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi/Chennai
Revising its draft education policy, the Centre today dropped the contentious provision of compulsory teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi-speaking states after the three-language proposal sparked outrage, mainly in Tamil Nadu.
The DMK and other parties in Tamil Nadu, which had strongly opposed the proposal in the 484-page draft National Education Policy (NEP) to make Hindi a mandatory third language to be taught in schools across the country, welcomed the decision.
The parties had alleged that the move was tantamount to thrusting Hindi language on the non-Hindi-speaking states.
“Students who wish to change one or more of the three languages they are studying may do so in Grade 6 or 7, so long as they are able to still demonstrate proficiency in three languages (one language at the literature level) in their modular Board Examinations some time during secondary school,” the revised draft said.
In the earlier draft, the panel proposed mandatory teaching of Hindi in non-Hindi-speaking states.
“It was a draft report and not policy yet. We have sought feedback from various stakeholders. The committee has modified the earlier draft and made some changes,” a Human Resource Development Ministry official said in Delhi. — PTI
South opposition
- Tamil Nadu has always resisted “imposition” of Hindi. In 1965, the state witnessed violent protests against a proposal that Hindi would be India’s only official language
- Karnataka CM said one language should not be imposed on others
- DMK said rollback showed M Karunanidhi was “living”, suggesting it was a success of his legacy of opposing “imposition” of Hindi
