Tamil Nadu govt extends deadline for state education policy panel to submit its report

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu state government on Saturday extended by four months the deadline for the high-level committee headed by retired chief justice D Murugesan to submit its report on the state education policy.
“The committee will submit its report by the end of September 2023,” school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said in a statement.
The state government formed a 13-member panel in June last to frame a distinct state education policy keeping in mind the interests of education and future of the youth in the state. The government gave the panel one year’s time to submit its recommendations.
S Jawahar Nesan, one of the panel members, resigned from the panel recently citing interference by officials. Following that, two new members were added to the committee.
“It was also decided to add D Freeda Gnana Rani, former principal, Quaid-E-Milleth Government College for Women, G Palani, HoD, department of Tamil literature, Madras University, as new members,” Poyyamozhi said in the statement.
The minister said the discussions were held with all sections, including government officials, to understand the issues in implementing the policy. “The committee has been functioning with full freedom. The state government has full confidence in the functioning of the committee,” he added.
"Based on the recommendations, a distinct education policy will be framed keeping in mind the interest of students in Tamil Nadu and the development of the state," Poyyamozhi said
The state government opposes several key features of the National Education Policy 2020 including conducting common entrance tests for all UG courses, introduction of a three-language formula and conducting common exams for classes III, V and VIII. It also opposes introduction of a four-year degree and giving the option of multiple exits saying that it would encourage more dropouts and create two-types of graduates.