Rural kids will face trouble: Stakeholders

Tamil Nadu Teachers Association President P K Illamaran said Hindi should not be made compulsory since it would be difficult for rural students to study an extra language.

He said the education policy must be translated in all Indian languages and it should be sent to all the States for its recommendations. “The State should be allowed three months’ time to come to a decision regarding the policy,” Illamaran said, adding that public opinion on the issue should also be considered.

State Platform for Common School System General Secretary PB Prince Gajendra Babu claimed that the Centre was trying to infringe upon the rights of the State. “It is up to the State to decide which language could be introduced,” he said, adding that in a federal structure, the State has the right to decide.

According to senior educationist Dr Somasundaram, “All languages should be given equal importance. If students in Tamil Nadu were forced to study Hindi, will the Centre introduce Tamil in north Indian states?”