BENGALURU: Finally after two years, the Chief Minister has come to the rescue of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Mysuru to get its affiliation renewed and has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting his intervention. In the letter, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requested the Prime Minister to direct University Grants Commission (UGC) to take a positive decision to protect the interests of the students of KSOU.
“I am writing this letter with great concern as the fate of lakhs of students are involved. UGC has de-recognised KSOU retrospectively from the academic year 2013-14 by issuing a public notice on June 16, 2015. An expert committee was constituted by the UGC to look into the case of KSOU. After studying the expert committee’s observations and recommendations, a compliance report was submitted to UGC.
Various additional documents requested by UGC in this regard are being submitted from time to time and the observations made by the UGC is being complied with,” the CM stated in his letter to the Prime Minister. Siddaramaiah also highlighted that students from various backgrounds were admitted to this university, especially students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. “With the de-recognition, the future of these students is in peril as they are denied higher education at their prime age. The students have been constantly representing to me on the problems faced by them with the de-recognition of KSOU.
A revised proposal was sent to UGC in the light of the discussions held under the chairmanship of higher education secretary of Government of India on June 21, 2017. However, UGC has not communicated the final decision and several students are eagerly waiting for the decision by UGC to pursue higher education. I request you to look into this matter personally,” wrote Siddaramaiah.
During the academic year 2015-16, UGC de-recognised affiliation for KSOU retrospectively from 2013-14 academic year, citing several technical issues mainly, offering technical courses under distance education mode and expanding outside the jurisdiction. Since then, KSOU has not admitted students for any of its courses.