Poor enrolment and lack of government support have put the ambitious Kannada medium engineering course, started at the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) two years ago, in peril. VTU is mulling over discontinuing the course, sources said.
As per the National Education Policy (NEP) recommendations, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) decided to offer engineering education in regional languages. It made provisions to teach civil and mechanical engineering courses. VTU translated all the course material from English to Kannada, and made it available to students.
During the 2021-22 academic year, SJC Institute of Technology-Chickballapur, Bheemanna Khandre Institute of Technology (BKIT), Bhalki, and three other private engineering colleges opted to offer Kannada medium engineering courses. Seventeen students opted for Kannada medium engineering courses during the CET counselling, which was conducted by Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). But, all these students withdrew by the time of admission, and joined regular engineering courses.
In the 2022-23 academic year, only SJCIT and BKIT expressed interest in offering the Kannada medium course. For the 42 seats in Kannada medium civil engineering, only one student opted for the course. Eventually, he too withdrew his admission, and joined the regular engineering course.
No student showed interest in the 24 seats in Kannada medium mechanical engineering course.
S. Vidyashankar, Vice Chancellor (VC) of VTU, told The Hindu, “Over two years, we have zero admission for the Kannada medium engineering courses. Therefore, we will put them on hold, but not cancel the courses.”
Poor support from government in terms of course material and job opportunities
Sources said due to the lack of job opportunities and research facilities, students are not keen to opt for Kannada medium engineering courses.
The former VC of VTU, Karisiddappa, had submitted a proposal to the State Government seeking vast publicity for the courses. He also stressed on the need for job opportunities for Kannada-medium engineering graduates and reservation in government recruitment in PWD, irrigation, KPTCL, BESCOM, BDA, BBMP, and local bodies. But, there was no response from the government.
A faculty member of VTU said, “Unless job opportunities are created, there will be no scope for Kannada-medium engineering courses. There is no course material for higher education or research in Kannada-medium engineering, and students would depend on English course material by default. Therefore, the government should create some job opportunities and make available course material for research activities. Otherwise, there is no alternative other than closing the courses.”
Poor response to B.Sc course in engineering colleges
VTU also started B.Sc degree courses in engineering colleges for two years as per a proposal of NEP and for better utilisation of classrooms and laboratory facilities.
The VTU offered this course in more than 50 engineering colleges with 40 seats each. But, in the 2022-23 academic year, only 32 students had enrolled in three engineering colleges for the B.Sc course.
