No detention policy till class 8 will be continued: Tamil Nadu government

Chennai: Tamil Nadu state government has opposed the several key provisions in the draft new education policy, including the provisions related to allowing the foreign universities in the country and promoting the Sanskrit language at the meeting of Central Advisory Board of Education (Cabe) in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Tamil Nadu was represented by higher education minister K.P. Anbalagan, school education minister K. Pandiarajan at the highest educational advisory board of the country.

“As per the decision taken at the Tamil Nadu cabinet meeting, we have opposed many provisions in the draft new education policy,” K. Pandiarajan told DC.

“We opposed the move to allow foreign universities in India and proposed upper limit of 100 affiliated colleges per university and the provision which opposes the unitary universities. In Tamil Nadu, we have seven unitary universities solely focusing on one department like fisheries, sports and animal husbandry,” he explained.

Several states also have jointly opposed to many provisions in the draft new education policy. “In the meeting, the central government assured that it will appoint an education commission to finalise the new education policy with 50 per cent representation of the states and another 50 per cent representation of educationists,” he said.

The provision related to minority institutions did not take up for discussion as the matter is subjudice. On the issue of the no detention policy, the central government accepted the suggestion from the states.

“We opposed the move to reduce the no detention policy from class 8 to class 5. After facing opposition from the 15 states, the Central government has left the decision to the states, So, Tamil Nadu will continue to have no detention policy up to class 8” he said.