Tamil Nadu students prefer only two-language policy, minister Ponmudy says

CHENNAI: Citing the poor response for BA Hindi course in Chennai’s Presidency College, Tamil Nadu higher education minister K Ponmudy on Thursday said students in the state prefer only a two-language formula.

Ponmudy said only three students joined the BA Hindi course in Presidency College this year.

On the row over Union govt delaying SSA funds to Tamil Nadu for not accepting the three-language policy in PM SHRI schools, Ponmudy said, “It is only for political reasons that the funding has been stopped, and it has nothing to do with the development of education.”

“Tamil Nadu has been following a two-language policy since 1967. Students must study Tamil and English in the two-language policy. They can take a third language as an optional language. We do not have any objection to it,” he said.

The minister said the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions committee enrolled 15,000 more students this year through online counselling compared to last year.

The higher education dept has extended the last date to enrol students in arts and science colleges to Sept 23.

“Students who did not join any college and those who took supplementary exams can join arts and science colleges till Sept 23. They will be enrolled in vacancies even if they haven’t applied earlier,” he said.

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