Executive Summary:
This document is a response to a parliamentary question regarding the absence of permanent Tamil language teachers in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in Tamil Nadu, despite the presence of Hindi and Sanskrit teachers. It clarifies the KVs' language instruction policy, highlighting the provision for regional languages and the steps taken to support Tamil language education through contractual teachers, virtual learning, and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The response also details the government's initiatives to promote classical Tamil through the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT).
Key Points / Main Content:
* **KV Language Policy:**
* KVs primarily cater to children of transferable Central Government employees from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
* The medium of instruction is primarily Hindi and English.
* Sanctioned language teacher posts are for Hindi, English, and Sanskrit.
* **Regional Language Provisions:**
* Article 112 of the Education Code allows for additional arrangements for teaching regional languages if 15 or more students opt for it, using part-time contractual teachers.
* KVs are directed to engage local/regional language teachers on a contractual basis to support students at Foundational and Preparatory stages.
* **Tamil Language Support:**
* Tamil is taught through the Tamil Virtual Academy (TVA) in 40 out of 46 KVs in Tamil Nadu.
* Contractual teachers are engaged in 31 KVs to teach Tamil in physical mode.
* **National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:**
* Focuses on the promotion of all Indian languages, including Tamil.
* Encourages the use of home language/mother tongue/local language as the medium of instruction up to at least class 5, preferably class 8.
* Promotes bilingual teaching approaches and quality textbooks in home languages/mother tongues.
* **Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT):**
* Located in Chennai, works for the development and promotion of Classical Tamil.
* Conducts seminars, workshops, short-term projects, and translation of Tirukkural and other classical texts.
* Launched PM e-vidya Tamil channel for Tamil language promotion in collaboration with NCERT.
Impact Analysis:
* **Tamil-speaking Students:**
* *Impact:* Acknowledges their right to education in their mother tongue but relies on contractual teachers and virtual learning for Tamil instruction in KVs.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available resources like TVA and contractual teachers and express interest in regional language learning to reach the threshold of 15 students for additional support.
* **Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS):**
* *Impact:* Need to balance the mandate of uniform education with the need to support regional languages.
* *Action Required:* Continue engaging contractual teachers, utilizing TVA, and adhering to NEP 2020 guidelines regarding mother tongue instruction. Ensure awareness of Article 112 of the Education Code.
* **Ministry of Education:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing NEP 2020 and supporting initiatives for promoting Indian languages, including Tamil.
* *Action Required:* Continue funding and supporting CICT and other initiatives for language promotion. Monitor the implementation of mother tongue instruction in KVs and other educational institutions.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where there is a reported lack of permanent Tamil language teachers in Kendriya Vidyalayas.
Kendriya Vidyalayas KVs: Central government schools in India catering to children of transferable Central Government employees.
National Education Policy, 2020: A policy by the Government of India focusing on the promotion of all Indian languages, including Tamil, and emphasizing instruction in the mother tongue.
Central Institute of Classical Tamil CICT: An institute established by the Government of India at Chennai for the development and promotion of Classical Tamil.
SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education.
Tamil Virtual Academy TVA: An autonomous organization under the Tamil Nadu State Government that provides Tamil language education; used in 40 out of 46 KVs in Tamil Nadu.
Article 112 of the Education Code of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan KVS: Article within KVS's Education Code with provisions for teaching regional languages.
Tirukkural: A classic Tamil text being translated by CICT into Scheduled Languages and other languages.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1233
ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
ZERO TAMIL LANGUAGE TEACHERS IN KVs IN TAMIL NADU
1233. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that there are zero permanent Tamil language teachers appointed
in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in Tamil Nadu;
(b) if so, the reasons for such a glaring disparity, particularly when there are reportedly
86 permanent Hindi teachers and 65 permanent Sanskrit teachers posted in the
same schools;
(c) whether the Government considers this imbalance a violation of linguistic equality
and the rights of Tamil-speaking students to receive education in their mother
tongue, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of steps being taken by the Government to ensure the immediate
recruitment of permanent Tamil language teachers in Kendriya Vidyalayas in Tamil
Nadu; and
(e) whether the Government will formulate any policy to ensure equal representation of
regional languages, especially Tamil, in central educational institutions in the
country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (d) Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) primarily cater to students who are the wards of
transferable Central Government employees who come from diverse linguistic
backgrounds. Therefore, the medium of communication and instruction in KVs is Hindi
and English. KVs being 'specified category' schools are mandated to provide uniform
education to the wards of transferable Central Government employees across the
country. Accordingly, the sanctioned post of language teachers in KVs are for Hindi,
English, and Sanskrit languages.However, the Article 112 of the Education Code of Kendriya Vidyalaya
Sangathan (KVS) has provisions for teaching regional languages which provides for
additional arrangement for teaching of the regional language/ mother tongue, provided
15 or more students are willing to opt for the same. For this, part-time contractual
teachers are appointed.
Additionally, as approved by Board of Governors (BoG) of KVS, all KVs
have been directed to engage local/regional language teachers on contractual basis on
a need-based requirement to support children at the Foundational and Preparatory
stages, especially when they face difficulties in understanding concepts taught in Hindi
or English.
As per information received from KVS, Tamil is taught through the Tamil Virtual
Academy (TVA), an autonomous organization under the Tamil Nadu State Government,
in 40 out of 46 KVs of Tamil Nadu. In addition to this, contractual teachers are also
engaged in 31 KVs to teach Tamil in physical mode.
(e) The National Education Policy, 2020 focuses on promotion of all Indian
languages including Tamil. NEP 2020 provides, wherever possible, for medium of
instruction to be in the home language/mother tongue/local language up to at least class
5 and preferably class 8. The policy also provides for making available quality text books
in home language/mother tongue and encouraging teachers to use bilingual approach
while teaching.
Government of India has established a separate institute namely Central Institute
of Classical Tamil (CICT) at Chennai which works for the development and promotion of
Classical Tamil. CICT conducts seminars, workshops, short term projects and translation
of Tirukkural into Scheduled Languages and other languages for the promotion and
development of Classical Tamil. CICT undertakes works for promotion of classical Tamil
translation of available 41 Tamil Classical Texts into various languages. CICT has made
Braille conversion of 41 classical texts enabling visually challenged to experience the
ancient Tamil literature. CICT in collaboration with NCERT have launched PM e-vidya
Tamil channel for the promotion of Tamil language.
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