We do not want to create translators, says T.N. School Education Minister

Tamil Nadu government prioritizes scholars and scientists over translators, criticizes Union government's three-language policy and funding issues.

The Tamil Nadu government does not want to create translators and would rather sculpt students into scholars and scientists, School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said on Saturday. He was responding to the comments made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah who was in Arakkonam on Friday.

Mr. Mahesh spoke to reporters after distributing awards to teachers at a private college in Tiruchengode, here, regarding the three-language policy and about funds not being released by the Union government. In a direct reference to what Mr. Amit Shah said, he added: “We do not want to create translators but wish to create scholars and scientists. In Tamil Nadu, people studied only under the two-language policy so long, what is the need for imposing a third language? If students want, they can learn as many languages as they wish, but it should not be made compulsory. That is the government’s stand and the government is not against any language. But to say that to receive funds, Hindi should be accepted, is like blackmailing,” the Minister charged the Union Government.

Replying to a question on the signature campaign by the BJP for the three language policy, the Minister alleged that, similar to incidents of giving biscuits to passengers and cheating them on trains, the BJP was giving biscuits to children and getting their signatures. If the BJP wanted the three-language policy, it (BJP) should speak with the parents of children and not threaten children. In some places, the BJP cadre got signatures by threatening the children, he alleged. The children of Tamil Nadu said they do not want NEET exams. Did the BJP government remove NEET, he asked.

Responding to a question on students participating in a dance programme with the PMK party flag in Krishnagiri district, Mr. Anbil Mahesh said that the school headmaster was transferred. The Chief Minister inaugurated new buildings in schools across the State and works worth ₹3,697 crores were taking place. Before 2027, 18,000 buildings would be constructed in government schools.