Kannada not mandatory for college students, govt relaxes mandate

In the official communication released on January 21 the department of higher education has clarified that students can now opt for any language of their choice, applying for all universities except the Visveswarya Technological University. 

 

In the case where a student had to opt for Kannada as no choice was given, the attendance of Kannada language would be transferred to that of the language they select now, officials in the department have clarified. 

 

“Prima facie, we are of the view that the matter with respect to the implementation of Kannada as a compulsory subject in higher studies on the basis on implementing the National Education Policy is a question that requires consideration and as such, the state government at this stage shall not insist to make the language compulsory. The students who have already taken the Kannada language on the basis of their choice may do so, but all students who do not wish to take Kannada language will not be compelled to pursue the Kannada language till further orders,” the communication sent to universities signed by Mahesh R, undersecretary to the department of higher education reads. 

 

It may be recollected that a state government circular issued in August 2021 became a bone of contention after it sought that all students, irrespective of which state they hail from must opt for Kannada as one of the two languages they would study in their undergraduate courses under the revised NEP 2020 framework. Subsequently, weeks later when objections were raised, the order was relaxed asking students to study the language in the first year only. 

 

This was challenged in the high court by Samskrita Bharati (Karnataka) Trust and a few other organizations supporting the promotion of the Sanskrit language. The High court had ordered the state government to reconsider and not impose any language on a student.