The State government is contemplating setting up residential colleges from this academic year in districts where enrolment for higher education is very low, said Basavaraj Rayaraddi, Minister for Higher Education, on Friday.
Responding to questions from reporters, Mr. Rayaraddi said in the wake of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah already making an announcement on this in his budget speech, he has convened a meeting of the officials concerned to chalk out a detailed plan of action and to select the districts.
“Apart from the Hyderabad Karnataka region, there are a few districts like Haveri which were lagging behind in enrolment for higher education. [In such areas], residential colleges will be set up in a phased manner,” he said.
About the directions issued by his department to stop the ongoing recruitment to fill up teaching posts at various universities, he said the step was taken following allegations of irregularities and corruption. “On getting complaints, there was no alternative but to stop the process. To ensure that all the recruitments are done in a transparent way, we are considering bringing in suitable amendments to introduce a written examination and demonstration of lectures that would be videographed, among other things. As for filling up of non-teaching posts, it will be fully based on merit,” he said.
On study chairs
He also said the demand for naming Gulbarga University after Basaveshwara was under consideration. About establishing a Basaveshwara Study Chair at Vijayanagar Sri Krishnadevaraya University, as proposed by its vice-chancellor, Mr. Rayaraddi said a decision would be taken after a study on the outcome of study chairs already established in various universities. He said he asked V-Cs and academics to study to what extent the study chairs have served their purpose.
Mr. Rayaraddi expressed confidence that the Congress, under the leadership of Mr. Siddaramaiah, would remain in power after the next Assembly elections. “Whether there is an internal squabble in the BJP or not, our party is going to be in power after the polls,” he said.
