The Forum of Former Vice-Chancellors of Karnataka State University (FVCK) has urged the State government to not implement any recommendations of the committee it constituted, which is headed by the Additional Chief Secretary, to look into the issues of the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) since the university’s writ of mandamus is pending before the High Court of Karnataka.
FVCK also urged the government to support KSOU’s stand for getting recognition from UGC at an early date in the interest of lakhs of students.
KSOU has filed the writ in the High Court seeking directions to the UGC for clearing its application seeking recognition that was withdrawn in June 2015. And the State government constituted the committee to look into problems of KSOU and its future.
“KSOU should be able to get recognition from UGC provided it has fulfilled the requirements of new regulations that are effective from January 2018. UGC can constitute an expert committee with members knowing open distance learning to scrutinise the application that has been submitted by KSOU,” said FVCK secretary R.N. Sreenivas Gowda.
KSOU had applied to UGC for grant of recognition to admit students for 2016, 2017 and 2018 claiming to have fulfilled all norms and conditions stipulated by the apex regulatory body. “UGC is keeping silent without giving permission even conditionally,” Mr. Gowda said in a release. FVCK has submitted suggestions to the government for mitigating the hardships of the students numbering over four lakh who had taken admissions in 2013, 2014 and 2015. These students have KSOU degrees or diplomas on hand but not able to use them either for employment or for further studies, the forum maintained.
FVCK suggested that a proficiency test can be conducted for students who have no validity of their degrees or diplomas through an objective test covering the entire syllabus in each course. This can be similar to CET or NEET to determine their eligibility to professional courses.
The suggested proficiency test can be conducted only with the approval of UGC. And therefore, the forum has urged the KSOU to strongly plead with the UGC to get its approval.
Mr. Gowda said KSOU can also plead with the UGC that the proficiency test can either be conducted by KSOU or be entrusted on any national testing organisation that has already established credibility on such matters. The selection of such an organisation can be on the basis of UGC’s suggestion, he suggested.