Tamil Nadu Edu Minister Urges To Oppose CBSE’s Detention Rule Under NEP: 'Parents Must Question'

Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi has once again voiced strong opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP), criticising its recent implementation and raising alarms over the pressure it places on young students. Central to the Minister’s concern is a new CBSE regulation requiring students in Classes 5 and 8 to repeat the academic year if they fail their annual exams.

'We Are Speaking For All TN Students': Minister

Speaking to reporters, Poyyamozhi recalled that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had rejected the NEP during its draft stage. However, he noted that the policy was pushed through during the COVID-19 pandemic without adequate public consultation.

The Minister said, as per ANI, "We are not speaking only for the children of DMK members. We are speaking for all students in Tamil Nadu, regardless of political affiliation--be it BJP, AIADMK. or others."

Referring to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which discourages failure-based assessments for students in Classes 3 through 8, Poyyamozhi cautioned that the new policy contradicts these principles. Although the regulation offers students a chance to reappear for exams within two months, the Minister argued that failure itself at an early age could alienate children from the education system altogether, as per a report on NDTV.

Calling on parents to take a stand, he urged them not to endorse any CBSE-mandated declarations that acknowledge failure in exams. 

The Minister also reiterated Tamil Nadu's long-standing resistance to the NEP's three-language formula, stating that it clashes with the state's commitment to an equitable education model. Tamil Nadu continues to resist the NEP, arguing that its centralised approach undermines the state’s efforts to provide inclusive and student-friendly education.

Even recently, Chief Minister Stalin firmly reiterated Tamil Nadu’s stance against the National Education Policy (NEP), stating that his government would reject it outright—even if it came with a financial incentive of Rs 10,000 crore.

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