Knowledge Commission gets 2 more years

The commission, in the last three years, had made 60 recommendations, of which only 12 have been implemented so far by the government. The Commission has spent Rs 17 crore since its inception, a majority of it being spent on research studies and projects.

Gowda, who met the Commission headed by noted scientist Dr K Kasturirangan in Bangalore on Saturday, later talking to reporters said the Commission had made several recommendations, some of which were even being implemented by the government.

“In order to bring about a transformation in the education sector and create employment opportunities, it is important that the Commission is given an extension till June 2013. Some of the recommendations will play a major role in the stream of higher education,” added Gowda.

Kasturirangan said the Commission was constituted to transform Karnataka into a “vibrant knowledge society” and  it had made several recommendations, taken up studies, projects, consultations and interactions with  various depar­­- t­ments of the government.

“Six trend-setting research studies have been commissioned; nine projects were executed in collaboration with the various departments like primary and secondary education, collegiate education, AYUSH, State Education Research and Training,” he said.

As many as 115 interactions have taken place with nine departments with regard to implementation of recommendations and execution of projects, Kasturirangan added.

Latha Krishna Rau, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, said that in its next phase, the Commission would focus on newer areas and the nuances of administration. She also said that there will be new faces in the Commission in its next term.

M K Sridhar, Executive Director and Member-Secretary of the Commission, said the panel was deliberating on constituting a Change Management Team to address the challenges that Karnataka would face while implementing the Right to Education programme.

Jnana Fellowship for 24

Twenty-four Jnana Fellows with five to 15 years’ experience have been selected to work with 10 departments — an exercise that is part of the Karnataka Knowedlge Commission’s flagship Jnana fellowship programme, the panel chief space scientist Kasturirangan said.

He said out of the 24 fellows, 10 were women, seven doctorate holders and nine professional degree holders. Schoolteachers, doctors, corporates and the like have applied and bagged the fellowship. These individuals will work closely with departments like primary and secondary education, health and family welfare, higher education, horticulture, youth services, personnel and administrative reforms, women and child development, and rural development and panchayat raj. “There will be a two-way exchange process. These fellows will be the ambassadors of the systems that they will be exposed to in the administrative set-up. This will also help the government towards extending better governance,” added Kasturirangan. The Commission has not announced the names of the fellows.