From this academic year here on, all second-year engineering students of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) and its affiliated colleges will have to take a compulsory course in Kannada.
The Kannada course, which was an audit course up until now, did not carry any weightage. It has now been made a course where students earn credits. Even if the students know Kannada, it is mandatory for students in their third and fourth semester to attend these classes.
According to VTU Registrar HN Jagannath Reddy, Kannada will be a formal course and all engineering students must obtain a total of 175 credits.
“Students must get at least 175 credits before completing engineering, and Kannada will carry credit points. This course aims at teaching Kannada for students who do not know the language as well,” he said.
The university’s administration has taken into consideration students from other states in the country who do not know the language and has said that they will not find it hard. Hence, the course had been divided into two parts. Those who have studied Kannada as a second language (in ICSE and CBSE curriculum) and first language (state syllabus) will have a separate course.
“This is to ensure that those who already know Kannada will be studying the language at an advanced level,” Jagannath said.
Those who have studied Kannada up to class 10 will have to study the Kannada Manasu course, and those who do not literate in Kannada will have to opt the Kannada Kali course. The Kannada lessons will be held twice a week for 16 weeks.
“All colleges affiliated to VTU will have to submit a report about the lesson plans one month after the classes begin. Kannada has been made mandatory after the Kannada Development Authority had asked all the higher education institutes to make Kannada a mandatory subject,” Jagannath added.
In July 2017, the KDA had directed all higher educational institutions in Karnataka to start teaching Kannada. The KDA’s recommendation came after Kannada University Vice-Chancellor Boralingaiah submitted a report which recommended Kannada to be made mandatory in higher education as well.
As it is difficult to find teachers, the university is planning to hire guest lecturers and also employ the service of faculty members who are equipped to teach the Kannada Kali course.