Higher education is no longer a distant dream for some sections of the society. After taking a giant leap in 2010 by reserving one seat in each of its postgraduate courses for transgenders, Bangalore University (BU) is now reaching out to the community again.
The Directorate of Correspondence Courses and Distance Education (DCC and DE) is offering free undergraduate and postgraduate courses to four categories: the visually impaired, jail inmates, widows and transgenders.
Under normal circumstances, they would have had to pay Rs. 5,500 for a BA course while BBM would have cost Rs. 12,000.
T.D. Kemparaju, Director of DCC and DE said the facility was first offered in the academic year 2014-15, but only two visually challenged students took up the course.
Due to lack of awareness, they even ended up paying the fee, which is now being refunded.
But this time, BU is leaving no stone unturned to let people know about the free courses.
It has written to the Social Welfare Department, Prisons Department and NGOs working with the visually challenged and transgenders.
Mr. Kemparaju said, “We realised that students from these categories drop out of mainstream education due to various reasons. But under the distance or open learning mode, they can study whenever they want to.” Eligibility has also been relaxed for these categories; they will have to provide the necessary certificates at the time of applying.
Those applying for BA or BCom will have to have studied 10+2 (Pre-University level) to apply.
Those who have completed diploma can also apply, though the diploma should be in the 10+2 format.
However, those applying under the Open University scheme can make do with being over 18 years of age.
BU’s reservation for transgenders has met with zero response since the time of the announcement.
This is being attributed to the lack sufficient number of graduates among transgenders.
