After Kannada was made mandatory in schools, the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) now wants it to be compulsory in colleges and universities. The decision was taken after KDA chief S.G. Siddaramaiah held a meeting with Vice-Chancellors of various universities on Saturday.
Sources said that the Karnataka State Higher Education Council has been asked to set up a panel to frame textbooks for this purpose. Sources said that Mr, Siddaramaiah directed all higher educational institutions to have a subject in UG and PG courses.
A source pointed out that two types of books have been ordered to be framed — one for students from the State and another for those from outside Karnataka. “Students from outside the State will have to learn basic conversational Kannada and Kannada related to their course,” an official said. The official also added that students will have to take a written test after attending these classes.
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The meeting was called based on the report submitted by former Kannada university Vice-Chancellor H.C. Boralingaiah who submitted a report in January 2016 to make Kannada compulsory in higher education institutions.
Sources in the higher education pointed out that Kannada is already being taught in all State run universities and affiliated colleges till the fourth semester. This however is not mandatory. But agriculture, medical, engineering and law college students do not study the language.