Education, Careers & Professional News
Karnatak varsity all set to introduce semester system
Source
THE HINDU
Date
2005-07-22
Information
Authorities of Karnatak University have discounted reports that the university is unable to implement the semester system for undergraduate courses from this academic year.
Referring to the claims made by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat activists and the Karnatak University College Teachers Association, the university sources said the matter had been discussed at different academic fora of the university before it was sent for approval to the Chancellor.
Steps have been taken to ensure that textbooks required are also made available on time. Principals of colleges have been informed of each step in implementing the semester system.
The authorities reiterated that there is no question of the university going back on the move once the proposal has been accepted by principals. They said the university is prepared to look into any lacunae noticed and is willing to take corrective action.
On the questions raised regarding the availability of textbooks, it is pointed that that textbooks are required only for languages, and that for others, there are no textbooks but only reference books, of which there is no shortage.
As far as Kannada is concerned, all the three books prescribed for first and second semester B.A. are ready, which have been published by the Prasaranga of Karnatak University.
For the I semester of B.Com., three books have been prescribed, of which two are ready and one will be ready shortly. And the only book prescribed for students opting for Optional Kannada is ready.
The university authorities said all except one book are being published by the Prasaranga Wing of the Karnatak University and the remaining book is being published by Akshara Prakshaha of Heggodu, Shimoga.
The books can be obtained from the local dealers of the publishers.
As far as English is concerned, 12 books published by Macmillan, Orient Longman, and Oxford University have been prescribed, which can be bought from the local dealers of those companies.
Three books prescribed for second semester of B.A. and B.Com. and one for B.Sc. as Additional English have been published from Oxford University Press and Macmillan and the two books prescribed for Optional English for second semester of B.A. have also been published by Macmillan.
Eight Hindi books have been prescribed for first and second semesters of B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., B. Music, and as optional papers for first semester of B.A. They are available with local book dealers of Dharwad and Belgaum.