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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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
