BELAGAVI: Amidst the rising debate over whether Kannada language should be made compulsory for all courses and degrees in higher education, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has decided to introduce Kannada as a compulsory subject for all students of engineering colleges in the state.
They will have Kannada as one of their subjects in their third and fourth semester and are needed to mandatorily pass it to qualify for the next semester. According to VTU sources, the university is serious on making all engineering students in the state learn Kannada and decided to introduce it as one of its ‘credit subjects' which the students must pass before heading to their third year of BE/B.Tech degrees.
Earlier, the university had plans to introduce Kannada as a core subject without giving much focus to it, but later decided to have it as one compulsory subject in the engineering curriculum. The move will certainly be welcomed by many in the state, but a large chunk of engineering students who hail from other states could face a tough time clearing these examinations.
Most out-of-state students could find Kannada tough as they come across it for the first time with virtually no basic knowledge. However, VTU is confident that a team of professional Kannada teachers which it would hire would be able to make the subject easier to learn for engineering students. Sources said the university has already made all preliminary preparations to introduce the subject from the current year and is working on having the needed faculty in Kannada for all engineering colleges affiliated to it.
