JOIN USColleges may have uniform language textbooks
Students across the streams of arts, commerce, science and management in degree courses may soon have uniform language textbooks, if the Higher Education department has its way.
A circular in this regard has been issued by the Higher Education department Principal Secretary Rajneesh Goel to all the universities, seeking suggestions on implementing uniform textbooks. The circular has elicited reactions both for and against it from academicians and lecturers.
At present, it is mandatory for degree students (BA, BSc, BCom and BBM) to write language papers for two years (four semesters). Presently, the language textbooks are different for various streams. But the circular aims to implement uniform language textbooks across the streams.
The move of the Higher Educationis seen as a cost-cutting measure as that will reduce the requirement of language teachers in the colleges. They can have one language teacher to take common classes for all streams. However, it is not without its share of criticisms, chief among them being that it will render many teachers jobless.
“We have received a circular from the Higher Education department. We will decide about it in the Syndicate after obtaining opinions from various departments,” Tumkur University deputy registrar Venugopal told Deccan Herald.
“It is not appropriate to have an uniform language textbook policy. Instead, they can stop having language classes after PU. The move will deprive many language teachers of job opportunities. Besides, this will limit the development of Kannada and the study of the language,” said Siddharta College professor and poet K B Siddaiah.