BENGALURU:THE Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has directed universities across the state to make Kannada a compulsory subject in higher education, that is undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including professional courses, for the first two years. It has already been made mandatory in schools.
During a meeting with vice-chancellors of all universities across the state on Saturday, KDA chairperson Prof SG Siddaramaiah directed the universities to take necessary measures to introduce Kannada during the first two years. He insisted that they start the process from the current academic year itself.
To ensure the same is implemented, the KDA has constituted a committee headed by Mallika S Ghanti, V-C of Kannada University, Hampi. The committee has been asked to submit a report on how to implement Kannada in higher education at various levels.
Speaking to Express, vice-chancellor of one of the universities, said, “It won’t be difficult for most of the universities as we are already teaching Kannada for UG and PG students. The problem is for the universities that offer professional courses, like VTU and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, as they have a lot of students from other states.”
Teachers to be recruited
In case of professional universities, they will now have to issue a circular to all their affiliated colleges and the colleges must recruit Kannada teachers on priority.