Ex-VCs advice KSOU to conduct 'Proficiency Test'

The Forum of Former Vice Chancellors of Karnataka State Universities (FVCK) has suggested to conduct a 'Proficiency Test' to all three lakh students of the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), who have no validity for their degrees or diplomas, through an objective type test, covering their entire respective syllabus of each course.

The FVCK has given this suggestion in the wake of the present imbroglio of the KSOU, as a plausible solution to the present crisis. The courses offered by the KSOU have been de-recognised, since the academic year 2013, following an order of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2015, for violation of certain rules and norms.

According to a press note from FVCK, the test can be similar to the CET or NEET, conducted for PUC students to determine their eligibility to professional courses. "The test can be conducted only with the approval of the UGC. So, the state government and the KSOU should plead with the UGC for approval for solving the problems of nearly 3 lakh students. The test can be conducted either by the KSOU or can be entrusted to any national testing organisation that has already established credibility in such matters," the press release states.

"The KSOU should be able to get prospective permission from the UGC without any hurdle, provided it applies by fulfilling the requirements of the New Regulations that are effective from June 2017. The UGC can constitute an expert committee with members conversant with Open and Distance Learning (ODL) to scrutinise the application submitted by the KSOU. Due to the delay in the clearance by the UGC for 2017, the KSOU has filed a Writ of Mandamus before the Karnataka High Court, seeking directions to the UGC to clear its application for prospective recognition. Since the Writ is pending before the high court, the state government should not implement any recommendation of the committee constituted by it. The government supports the stand of the KSOU to get recognition by the UGC at an early date," the retired VCs have stated.