No class 11 public exam under new TN education policy

Tamil Nadu has launched its own state school education policy as an alternative to the Centre’s National Education Policy (NEP), with Chief Minister M K Stalin asserting it is rooted in social justice and opposes what he calls the “imposition” of Hindi.

Unveiling the Tamil Nadu State School Education Policy 2025 at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai on Aug 8, Stalin said the state would maintain its bilingual policy of Tamil and English.

He stressed that the policy is designed to prepare students for the future, promote creativity, and encourage independent thinking over rote memorization.

“We want to provide the necessary energy for future life. We want to create students who are technologically minded, creative, future-ready, and well-equipped,” he said while addressing a state-level felicitation for school students.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed that Tamil, as the mother tongue, is central to the state’s identity and pride.

The policy rules out a public examination for Class 11 and emphasizes the inclusion of physical activities in the curriculum.

It also reflects the state’s progressive approach to education, aiming to create learners who ask questions rather than simply memorize facts.

At the event, Stalin presented certificates of appreciation and laptops to government school students who had secured admissions to higher education institutions.

“Tamil Nadu has a unique character in everything. There is progressive thinking. Based on that, we have created this education policy with the necessary vision for the future,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, several state ministers, Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, and senior officials attended the release function.

Tamil Nadu is the first state to introduce a separate school education policy in place of the NEP, based on the recommendations of a 14-member committee chaired by retired Delhi High Court Chief Justice D Murugesan.