KSOU won't expand beyond state

 Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy has said the state will not expand the activities of Karnataka State Open University to other states. 

Efforts are being made to ensure the university gets back the University Grants Commission’s recognition. It would be sufficient if the university caters to students of Karnataka, he added. He was replying to BJP’s Lakshman Savadi, who raised questions in this regard on behalf of his party colleague C T Ravi, in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

The minister said he was aware of the inconvenience students are facing due of the derecognition. The government would not appeal in the Supreme Court seeking permission to the university to function outside Karnataka, he said.

Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri (BJP) said, “The higher education department secretary should manage universities efficiently. The government must hold the secretary responsible for maladministration.”

Supporting him, Suresh Gowda (BJP) said the Karnataka University Act should be amended to give officers and elected representatives some say in universities’ administration.

The minister said the government has little say in the administration of universities. “The Act is being amended to bring in total transparency in administration. We do not want to interfere but there should be accountability. The law department is scrutinising the draft law. If possible, the amended Act would be tabled in the ongoing legislature session.”

Transfer policy

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait said the government would enact a law stipulating the number of years a government school teacher has to work in a place.

He was replying to questions related to shortage of teachers in border areas of Belagavi, by BJP’s Shashikala Jolle, in the Assembly.

The minister said government teachers do bring in pressure from legislators to get their postings changed. Hence, a law is planned to address this problem, he added.
Replying to a question, the minister said the government would host SSLC and PUC marks statements on a website to prevent tampering of marks.