Udhayanidhi Stalin Launches ‘College Dream 2025’ for Higher Education Guidance

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin, at the event held at the Anna Centenary Library in Kotturpuram, Chennai, inaugurated the “College Dream 2025” program under the ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ scheme for higher education guidance across Tamil Nadu through video presentation, and released the Higher Education Guidance Book.

In this event, under the ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ scheme, he praised and gave awards to 58 students who successfully underwent free coaching and succeeded in Union Government’s Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), and banking sector exams.

At the inauguration of the “College Dream 2025” under the ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ scheme, Honourable Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin delivered an emotional speech:

“Our Honourable Chief Minister’s visionary plan, ‘Naan Mudhalvan’, is being implemented through this College Dream 2025 program. I am extremely happy to appreciate all of you who have succeeded in exams like SSC, RRB, and IBPS.

Many boys and girls are here. Many from remote areas are joining us via Zoom calls and video broadcast. You are all here today with dreams of entering college after completing school. I know that 2K kids don’t like the word ‘advice’ at all.

My father often says, ‘No matter who says what, don’t accept it blindly. Ask why, what for, and how. If after questioning, it suits your understanding and reasoning, then only accept it.’ He says that. Among all, it’s only you Gen Z youth who are mostly following what he says.

I’m happy to see such intelligent and capable youth here. After completing school, you’re stepping into the vast world of higher education. This ‘College Dream’ program is implemented to support your aspirations and provide a bright future.

There are many students who hesitate to pursue higher education due to challenging circumstances. Identifying them, offering proper guidance, and getting them into college is the main goal of this program. Through ‘College Dream’, we aim to help one lakh students from each district into higher education.

When you were in school, your parents and teachers might’ve said, ‘10th standard exam is very important. It’s the foundation for your life.’ Later, for Plus 2, they would have told, ‘Plus 2 will change your life.’ Now, they say, ‘Only if you study well in college, you will succeed in life.’

This is not just motivational talk. Your education is truly a turning point in your life. Today, you’re going to college. A hundred years ago, this was not the case. Your grandparents might not have even stepped into a school. They may not have studied beyond school.

But today, that situation has changed. Tamil Nadu now has the highest number of students pursuing higher education in India.

This is because of the efforts of my father, former Chief Minister, scholar, and artist Kalaignar. He initiated many actions that made you all understand the importance of reservation.

Only because of reservation, today education has reached everyone. To help such students, 17 years ago, Kalaignar announced free tuition fees for first-generation graduates.

Not only that, he introduced many schemes for backward and marginalized students—scholarships, free bus passes for college students, etc. What I want to say is, behind your presence here is a great movement and struggle.

Our government, which is continuing that path, is making efforts to take you all to the next level. Following Kalaignar’s path, our Honourable Chief Minister is implementing special programs like ‘Tamil Pudhalvan’ and ‘Pudhumai Penn’ for students studying in government schools and moving into higher education.

Through these schemes, our government, under the leadership of the Honourable Chief Minister, is giving Rs. 1000 per month as education incentive to government school students entering higher education. Many of you here are beneficiaries of this support.

Compared to educational conditions in other parts of India, Tamil Nadu is ahead. Not all children there go to school like in Tamil Nadu. Even if they complete school, the percentage of students going to college is very low compared to Tamil Nadu.

It is called GER – Gross Enrollment Ratio – the percentage of school students entering higher education. Tamil Nadu’s GER is currently 52%, while India’s overall GER is only 29%.

The educational progress of Tamil Nadu is so far ahead that it will take another 10 to 15 years for other states to catch up. The credit for this goes to Dravidian movement governments.

Regarding higher education admissions, our party’s policy is that there should be no entrance exams. But through the new education policy, the Union Government is trying to bring in entrance exams not only for medical and engineering but also for arts colleges.

That’s why our Honourable Chief Minister and the Tamil Nadu Government are strongly opposing this new education policy. What I want to stress here is that all of you must study well and progress, that’s our wish.

When it comes to higher education, most people only think of medical, engineering, or arts and science courses. But…”