Tamil Nadu Draft Education Policy Proposes Ban on Coaching Centres, Pushes for Tamil Medium Education

Chennai: The draft state education policy submitted to the Tamil Nadu government by the Justice Murugesan-led panel has recommended banning coaching and tuition centres to curb the commercialisation of education. The 550-page report was handed to Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday by the 14-member panel.

The panel strongly advised prohibiting all coaching centres, whether operated by individuals or corporations, both physically and virtually. “Coaching centres and private institutions are treating education as a commodity, disregarding its significance. Without intervention, schools and colleges might become redundant,” the report warned.

Highlighting that coaching centres were not currently regulated by any government body, the panel urged the creation of a regulatory authority with suitable powers to address this issue. Furthermore, the report recommended banning all advertisements for formal education through the media, arguing that such promotions contributed to the commercialisation of education and undermined the integrity of the established education system.

The panel also suggested that Tamil should be maintained as the first language in schools and that education from primary to university levels should be conducted in the Tamil medium. The curriculum, according to the report, should be socially and culturally relevant, connecting knowledge with everyday life and grounded in Constitutional values.

Additionally, the report called for women-friendly infrastructure in schools, including well-ventilated toilets with incinerators, hassle-free commuting options for girls, and comfortable uniforms.