Engg colleges plan English classes for rural students

Decision to conduct a test in this regard was announced during the inaugural session itself. BMS College of Engineering Principal K Mallikarjuna Babu said: "Students from various parts of the State join our college. However, several students from rural areas find it difficult to adjust to English as a medium of instruction."

VTU has made two hours of English and Kannada classes compulsory for students in 2002. Even Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor N Prabhu Dev had recently stressed the need for soft skill training for rural students.

Engineering colleges conduct internal exams to assess the students; however, it is not included for calculating the grades. This has led to indifference among students about these sessions.

"It is a great move by the colleges. Strengthening skill sets would instil confidence among students to face an interview," said Former VTU vice-chancellor K Balaveera Reddy, who introduced the concept in the technical university.

BMS College is also hiring an external agency like Regional Institute of English to conduct the test for students. The students will be segregated in two batches based on these tests.

Cutting edge

The colleges keen to deliver better placement records have also started training their students to stay ahead in the job market. At PES Institute of Technology, students undertake campuswide quality improvement programme for students. "Communication skills are extremely important for students to perform well in their respective fields. Rural students also care more about their skill sets," said PESIT Principal K N Balasubramanya Murthy.