Tamil Nadu SEP 2025 upholds two-language policy, 10+2 system, social justice, clarifies Govt

Tamil Nadu State Education Policy (SEP) 2025 not only opposes the National Education Policy (NEP) in its rejection of three-language policy, centralised exams, and entrance test for undergraduate admissions but also focuses on inclusivity for marginalised students while aiming to preserve Tamil language and heritage, the state has said while responding to the demands of withdrawal amid widespread criticism.

As promised by the state school education minister Anbil Mahesh, the MK Stalin government has addressed the questions raised by the public, especially professor Jawahar Nesan Lenin, against the freshly announced SEP 2025.

The school education department denied violation of fundamental principles, reflection of NEP 2020, promotion of privatisation, ignorance to minority education rights, among other allegations.

SEP 2025 rejects NEP

The education department asserted that SEP 2025 retains Tamil Nadu’s two-language formula, and resists centralised entrance exams for UG admissions, which are distinctly state‑specific stands. It builds on the state’s tradition of using education as a tool for social justice with its midday meal programmes, free textbooks and uniforms, and inclusive practices.

Highlighting the innovations in the Tamil Nadu state education policy, it said that SEP 2025 has updated the curriculum for vocational education with topics such as AI, robotics, agritech, and internships. The school digital infrastructure has undergone upgrades with online teacher resource materials in Tamil and English.

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Contrary to the claims that the SEP mirrors NEP, the policy in fact retains the 10+2 system, state control on curriculum, and emphasis on welfare and social justice, the government argued.

State education policy backs social justice

In an effort to uplift the marginalised groups and maintain diversity, the policy focuses on districts with a low Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) to bridge gaps, and prioritises infrastructure upgrades SC, ST predominant and disadvantaged areas. Moreover, it cements teacher recruitment to achieve the right Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR).

Clinging to the two-language policy, SEP 2025 assures that the linguistic rights of minorities are safe, the department added, which believes that education should return to the state list.

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Hitting out at the professor’s remarks, the Tamil Nadu school education department concluded, “SEP 2025 upholds state autonomy, strengthens social justice, retains and upgrades welfare measures, introduces future-ready curricula, and ensures flexibility through its “living document” approach. What Professor Nesan frames as deficiencies are in fact deliberate design choices to keep the policy accessible, adaptable, and rooted in Tamil Nadu’s context—with measurable outcomes detailed in the upcoming action plan.”