Union education minister shares Tamil Nadu govt letter expressing interest to establish PM SHRI schools
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday cited a March 2024 letter from the Tamil Nadu government to claim that the DMK-led state government agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish PM-SHRI schools under the National Education Policy (NEP).
“DMK MPs and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin accused me of misleading Parliament regarding Tamil Nadu’s consent for establishment of PM-SHRI Schools. I stand by my statement made in Parliament and am sharing the consent letter from Tamil Nadu School Education Department,” he said.
The Tamil Nadu government and the Centre have been at loggerheads over the implementation of the NEP. Under the PM Shri scheme, the state concerned has to sign an MoU with the central government that it would implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and in return the Centre provide funds.
The letter dated March 15, 2024 stated, “I would like to inform that the State of Tamil Nadu is very keen to sign the MoU for establishing the PM SHRI schools in the state. In this regard, a State Level Committee headed by the School Education Secretary has been constituted. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the MoU for establishing PM SHRI schools will be signed by the State before the beginning of next academic year 2024-25.”
Posting on X, Pradhan said the DMK dispensation led by Stalin has a lot to answer to the people of Tamil Nadu. “Raking the language issue as a diversionary tactic and denying facts as per their convenience will not shield their governance and welfare deficit. Why this sudden change of stance on NEP? Definitely for political brownies and reviving DMK’s political fortunes,” he said.
Pradhan said that “retrograde” politics of DMK is a great disservice to the bright future of Tamil Nadu and its students.
“I humbly request the CM not to view NEP 2020 from a political lens. Please prioritise the interest of our children in Tamil Nadu over political gains,” he added.
