– Reshma Ravishanker
The Karnataka government has announced the roll back of four-year degree programmes which was proposed in alignment with the NEP 2020 effective from the 2024-25 academic year.
Following a report submitted by the Karnataka State Education Policy chaired by Prof. Sukhadeo Thorat, the state’s incumbent Congress government has made four announcements.
Among them is a roll back of the previously offered 4-year undergraduate degree programme for students. However, the government order clarified that the new changes would not have an impact on students who are already pursuing their degrees.
Introducing a state education policy and shunning the NEP was among the primary agendas in congress’ manifestos ahead of state polls in Karnataka.
The Thorat Commission held extensive public consultation over a period of 3 months. Consultation meetings with the Vice-Chancellors and Deans and Heads of the Boards of Studies of various universities and College Principals were held according to the government.
“The Commission opined that the reason for change in structure and duration of degrees to 4 years shows that the objective is the desire to bring parity with the global education systems, especially the US system to facilitate the admission of the undergraduate students to do a master’s degree abroad. Keeping a 4-year degree program would potentially reduce access to undergraduate education for the poor, the socially disadvantaged groups such as scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women and students from rural area. Further, lack of physical infrastructure and non-availability of facilities and faculty have been mentioned as one of the reasons for the unwillingness of the colleges to start a 4-year UG programme,” the committee justified.
They added that so far as the curriculum was concerned, shifting from the three interrelated three core disciplines to two major disciplines in which students could opt for two disciplines which are not related, had been considered a major departure from the past and the major occupies less credit allotment to discipline core, as compared to the three major system. Thus, the three major system was preferred.
Three alternative UG Curriculum Frameworks (CFW) have also been proposed. Students can opt three majors with a general degree in all six semesters, or, three majors up to IV semester and specialization in 1 subject in V and VI semester or, a single subject specialization from the I semester with Minors, (For ex: B.COM, BBA, BCA, BA/BSc(specialisation)).
However, pertaining to multiple entry and exit or allowing certificate after the first year and diploma after the II year (multiple entry and exit), the government will take a call after the committee submits its final report.
“The changes would have no impact on the current students who are enrolled in the year 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24. They would continue in the existing system until they complete their graduation. Students admitted to the UG programmes during the academic years 2021-22; 2022-23 and 2023-24 shall continue to be governed by the existing Government order ED 260 UNE 2019 (Part 1) dated 7.8.2021 with respect to the duration as well as the curriculum. (sic),” read the government order.
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