Expert committee to be formed to examine changing syllabus in higher education: G.T Devegowda
Bengaluru, Jan 9: Karnataka Higher Education Minister G.T Devegowda Wednesday said that an expert committee would be constituted to look into changing the syllabus for higher education courses in the state.
Stating that government was making all efforts to increase enrollment in higher education courses, he also said his department was mullingholding online examinations for the Common Entrance Test (CET).
During the meeting of Vice-Chancellors of all universities here tomorrow, discussions would be held on changing the syllabus in accordance with the need that exists today in the fast changing world, Devegowda said.
"Syllabus in higher education has not undergone any change for a long period now...additional subjects can also be added under courses like BA.
In accordance with changing times, a lot of changes have happened and we need to bring in programmes that train our youngsters accordingly," he told reporters here.
"We will however continue with things in the syllabus that exist and holds good for today's requirements," he said, adding that an expert committee would be constituted for this purpose.
The Minister said discussions would be towards ensuring that the exams conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority is through the online process.
"CET and other things that are there we want to do it online, make it paperless. We want to do it from next year.
that's our decision," he said, adding that it was planned to introduce software, for which a meeting has been called on January 19 to take a decision.
The minister said that the move was aimed at ending complaints about malpractices in the CET exams.
Pointing out that there are 10 state-run engineering colleges in Karnataka, he said steps would be taken to provide all basic facilities to make them on par with noted private colleges.
Steps have also been taken to appoint teaching staff and principles to government and aided colleges, he said, adding that the government would appoint 3,800 lecturers and 394 principals before the start of the next academic year.
Universities had been asked to open skill development centres and adopt villages to encourage youngsters to enroll for higher education, by conducting various awareness programmes there, he said.
"Now enrollment or admissions for higher education is about 25 per cent. We have to create more awareness among youngsters so that they enroll for higher education. I want Universities to work in this regard," he said.
The Minister said various steps, like introducing a biometric system to track attendance of teachers, was being planned by the government to improve the quality of education.
"The government is taking steps one after the other. By next year, you will see some results," he said.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
