Make teaching methods simple for students to develop interest in Kannada: Bilimale

Shivamogga

Purushothama Bilimale, the chairman of Kannada Development Authority, has said that teachers of Kannada need to develop skills to teach the language in tune with the contemporary requirements.

He was speaking at the inauguration of a workshop on Kannada textbooks for degree courses organised by the forum of Kannada faculty in degree colleges of Kuvempu University in Shivamogga on Friday.

Mr. Bilimale said the mode of Kannada teaching in practice is over 50 years old. There was a need to make it simple so that students develop an interest in the language.

“There is no need for highlighting every concept of Kannada grammar to teach the language. Within a few days, an outsider can be taught to follow Kannada and also speak. The alphabet could be taught in a couple of days. Besides that, the learner should be made to know nouns and pronouns and how to frame sentences. With small exercises, one can pick up the language easily,” he said.

Expressing disappointment over the lack of scholarship among teachers, Mr. Bilimale said that many barely give attention to improving their skills or enhancing their knowledge. “It is a sad fact that many teachers are more interested in making money by investing in real estate or buying cars than giving attention to studies or research. Many do not buy even newspapers or books,” he said.

Referring to vacancies in universities, the chairman said that he had requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to fill up the vacancies. In response to his appeal, he said that Mr. Siddaramaiah wanted to know what the outcome of the recruitment would be.

“The Chief Minister said that the students who pass out of the universities are not getting jobs in the competitive world. The teachers are not making our children employable. This is an issue of serious concern. We need to teach skills among our students that get them jobs,” he stated.

Sharath Ananthamurthy, Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University, opined that the departments of humanities and social sciences in State universities have collapsed, with no process of learning or knowledge creation.

“The funds and grants for research in humanities and social sciences had come down drastically,” he said.

President of Kannada Teachers’ Forum Sabita Bannadi, vice president Kumsi Umesh, secretary S.M. Muttaiah, ATNCC College principal Mamatha P.R., and others were present at the programme.