CM Stalin releases Tamil Nadu’s State policy for school education; reiterates two-language formula

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday (August 8, 2025) released the Tamil Nadu State Education Policy – School Education, and reiterated the State’s two-language policy of teaching only Tamil and English. The policy has been designed keeping in mind Tamil Nadu’s unique character and is aimed at preparing students for the future with a vision, he said.

Listing out some of the highlights of the policy, Mr. Stalin said instead of (encouraging) memorising, the policy was for students to think and act. He said the policy aimed at making students creative, sought to link education with physical training, and emphasised the significance of the Tamil language.

The DMK government believed all students should complete their school education and pursue higher education. This year, about 72% of students who completed Plus Two exams were pursuing higher education, he said. He hoped the number would be higher in the coming years, and that the target was 100%.

In his speech, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated the Tamil Nadu government’s position to bring back education to the State List. Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said that the National Education Policy was a “vidhi” (fate), but the State Education Policy was a “madhi”.

The policy was based on the recommendations made by the Justice D. Murugesan Committee that was tasked with drafting a distinct State Education Policy.

In April 2022, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced the constitution of a committee to formulate a State Education Policy for Tamil Nadu. Justice Murugesan, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, led the committee that comprised a broad spectrum of experts in academics, sports, and music, among others.

Earlier, then Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, in his revised budget speech 2021-22, had said the government would appoint a high-level committee of educationists and experts to formulate a distinct State education policy in keeping with the historical legacy, the present situation, and the State’s future aspirations.

In July 2024, the Justice Murugesan committee submitted its report to the Tamil Nadu government. The committed had, among others, recommended that formal schooling must begin only at Class 1 in all institutions on “completion of 5 years” as on 31 July of an academic year. It may be noted that the National Education Policy (NEP) favours children completing six years to enter formal school education.

During the event on the Anna Centenary Library campus in Chennai, the Chief Minister also felicitated students who studied in State-run schools and have secured admissions into various prestigious higher education institutions. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Ministers Ma. Subramanian, P.K. Sekarbabu, Govi. Chezhiaan, and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Chennai Mayor R. Priya, Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, and senior officials were also present.