PETITION: Calling for a GCSE in Tamil

Tamil is one of the world’s oldest languages. Spoken by more than 80 million people worldwide and Tamil is one of the most widely used community languages in the UK.

Harrow is home to one of the largest Tamil‑speaking populations in the country, with thousands of students using Tamil at home and in our community.

Despite this, students in the UK currently cannot sit a GCSE in Tamil. While the Cambridge International iGCSE in Tamil is available, it is not a nationally recognised GCSE qualification and is not widely offered in state schools. This lack of formal provision restricts opportunities for Tamil‑speaking students who wish to maintain and develop their language, culture, and identity through mainstream education.

The Case for Change

• Cultural Representation
  A GCSE in Tamil would formally recognise and reflect the heritage of the large Tamil community in Harrow and across the UK.
• Fair Access in Education
  Students should have the same opportunity to study and be examined in their mother tongue as those taking GCSEs in languages such as Mandarin, Urdu, or Polish.
• Demonstrated Community Demand
  Supplementary and community‑run Tamil schools across Harrow teach hundreds of young people each year, highlighting sustained interest and strong local support.
• Global Significance
  Tamil is an official language of India, Sri Lanka, and Singapore, and is recognised globally as one of the world’s great classical languages with a rich literary tradition.

Representing a borough with one of the UK’s largest Tamil‑speaking communities, I join colleagues and education leaders in encouraging Examination Boards and the Department for Education to consider the formal approval and introduction of a GCSE in Tamil.

Let’s ensure that Tamil‑speaking students in Harrow – and across the country – have access to the educational recognition they deserve.

Add your name to show clear and growing public support for a Tamil GCSE.