The Tamil Nadu government is set to release the draft of its State Education Policy once the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is lifted. The MCC, which governs the conduct of elections in India, will be lifted after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results on June 4.
The Tamil Nadu government had announced its intention to develop an exclusive State Education Policy in the Assembly in 2021. A panel headed by retired High Court judge Justice D. Murugesan was constituted in May 2022 to draft the policy. The panel comprised educationists and experts from various fields.
Sources in the Tamil Nadu Education Department revealed that the draft of the State Education Policy was completed in November 2023. However, the release of the draft was put on hold due to the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections and the implementation of the MCC. Sources in the school education department indicated that the final document will take more than three months to be released after the draft is made public.
Dr. Mohammed Rashid, a retired Madras University professor, emphasized the importance of releasing the State Education Policy at the earliest, given that it was initiated after the announcement of the National Education Policy. He noted that the management of educational institutions has been eagerly awaiting the announcement of the new policy.
The Tamil Nadu government’s State Education Policy is expected to provide a roadmap for the development of education in the state. It is anticipated to address various aspects of education, including curriculum, pedagogy, teacher training, and infrastructure.