<p>The Kannada version of the science textbooks newly prescribed for the first year pre-university course may not be available for students before the commencement of their classes this year.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) has switched over to National Science Curriculum for the first PU science course from the current (2012-13) academic year. <br /><br />The students will have to study the syllabus prescribed for 11th standard by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or that for Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ISCE). <br /><br />As such, the textbooks published by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will have to be adopted in the State. <br /><br />The DPUE is introducing textbooks for PU science courses for the first time from this year. Students used to refer to several books since there were no prescribed textbooks till now. <br />Free of cost<br /><br />According to the website of the Board, the Kannada medium students of the science stream will get their textbooks free of cost before the commencement of the classes.<br /><br />Kannada University, Hampi, has been entrusted with the task of publishing the Kannada version of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology textbooks. The translation has been done by the Department itself.<br /><br />According to the agreement entered into between the Department and the Kannada University in December last, the books should be ready for circulation by April 26, 2012. However, the ground reality is that even the DTP work is not over.<br /><br />H C Boralingaiah, Vice-Chancellor (in-charge), Kannada University, said it may take a minimum of three months to get the textbooks printed. <br /><br />“The Department gave us the translated material only 20 days ago. There are hardly two or three DTP operators in the whole of Bangalore who can compose such technical matters in Kannada,” he said.<br /><br />The VC said incorporating mathematical formulae, diagrams, illustrations etc along with the Kannada text is a highly time consuming job and the textbooks could be made available only after two or three months. <br /><br />“If we have to come out with pretty decent error-free books, we have to get the job done professionally,” Boralingaiah added. The VC disclosed that the varsity should bring out 15,000 copies of four textbooks, four exemplars and three manuals.<br /><br />Rajashekar, Publication Assistant of the University, said the DTP work of the 600-page Physics textbook had been completed while that on Biology textbook was in progress. However, the work on Chemistry and Mathematics books was yet to begin. <br /><br />He said the task was time consuming due to non-availability of subject experts to compose and proof-read the text. The agreement between the Department and the University has no mention of the cost of production of textbooks. The cost of bringing out the books will not be less than Rs 1.5 crore. But the Department has not released any money till now, the V-C said.<br /><br />“When I do not have money to pay salaries to lecturers in the University, where do I bring money for the printing work? In addition, we do not have any marketing facility. Who will purchase the Kannada textbooks? I will place these facts before the University Syndicate on April 23. Without understanding the ground realities, the Department is pressuring us to hurry through the work” the V-C said. <br /><br />However, there are no hassles in bringing out the English version of textbooks. The Department has borrowed compact discs (CDs) from the NCERT for the purpose.<br /><br />No takers for the mother tongue<br /><br />Amid all the efforts to bring out Kannada version of the PU science textbooks, it appears that not even a handful of students opt to study science in their mother tongue. Not even one out of the 1,58,640 students admitted for the first PU course in 2011-12 elected to study in Kannada, according to Reddappa, Assistant Director, Department of PU Education. <br /><br />“Earlier, at least 30 to 40 students used to study in Kannada medium. But in the absence of prescribed textbooks, students did not show interest. This is the precise reason for bringing out NCERT books in Kannada this time. <br /><br />The aim is to help rural students study science, he said. <br /><br />Rajashekar, of the Kannada University said the Prasaranga had earlier published some science textbooks for PU courses. “We could not sell even 2,000 books over five years,” he said.</p>
<p>The Kannada version of the science textbooks newly prescribed for the first year pre-university course may not be available for students before the commencement of their classes this year.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) has switched over to National Science Curriculum for the first PU science course from the current (2012-13) academic year. <br /><br />The students will have to study the syllabus prescribed for 11th standard by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or that for Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ISCE). <br /><br />As such, the textbooks published by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will have to be adopted in the State. <br /><br />The DPUE is introducing textbooks for PU science courses for the first time from this year. Students used to refer to several books since there were no prescribed textbooks till now. <br />Free of cost<br /><br />According to the website of the Board, the Kannada medium students of the science stream will get their textbooks free of cost before the commencement of the classes.<br /><br />Kannada University, Hampi, has been entrusted with the task of publishing the Kannada version of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology textbooks. The translation has been done by the Department itself.<br /><br />According to the agreement entered into between the Department and the Kannada University in December last, the books should be ready for circulation by April 26, 2012. However, the ground reality is that even the DTP work is not over.<br /><br />H C Boralingaiah, Vice-Chancellor (in-charge), Kannada University, said it may take a minimum of three months to get the textbooks printed. <br /><br />“The Department gave us the translated material only 20 days ago. There are hardly two or three DTP operators in the whole of Bangalore who can compose such technical matters in Kannada,” he said.<br /><br />The VC said incorporating mathematical formulae, diagrams, illustrations etc along with the Kannada text is a highly time consuming job and the textbooks could be made available only after two or three months. <br /><br />“If we have to come out with pretty decent error-free books, we have to get the job done professionally,” Boralingaiah added. The VC disclosed that the varsity should bring out 15,000 copies of four textbooks, four exemplars and three manuals.<br /><br />Rajashekar, Publication Assistant of the University, said the DTP work of the 600-page Physics textbook had been completed while that on Biology textbook was in progress. However, the work on Chemistry and Mathematics books was yet to begin. <br /><br />He said the task was time consuming due to non-availability of subject experts to compose and proof-read the text. The agreement between the Department and the University has no mention of the cost of production of textbooks. The cost of bringing out the books will not be less than Rs 1.5 crore. But the Department has not released any money till now, the V-C said.<br /><br />“When I do not have money to pay salaries to lecturers in the University, where do I bring money for the printing work? In addition, we do not have any marketing facility. Who will purchase the Kannada textbooks? I will place these facts before the University Syndicate on April 23. Without understanding the ground realities, the Department is pressuring us to hurry through the work” the V-C said. <br /><br />However, there are no hassles in bringing out the English version of textbooks. The Department has borrowed compact discs (CDs) from the NCERT for the purpose.<br /><br />No takers for the mother tongue<br /><br />Amid all the efforts to bring out Kannada version of the PU science textbooks, it appears that not even a handful of students opt to study science in their mother tongue. Not even one out of the 1,58,640 students admitted for the first PU course in 2011-12 elected to study in Kannada, according to Reddappa, Assistant Director, Department of PU Education. <br /><br />“Earlier, at least 30 to 40 students used to study in Kannada medium. But in the absence of prescribed textbooks, students did not show interest. This is the precise reason for bringing out NCERT books in Kannada this time. <br /><br />The aim is to help rural students study science, he said. <br /><br />Rajashekar, of the Kannada University said the Prasaranga had earlier published some science textbooks for PU courses. “We could not sell even 2,000 books over five years,” he said.</p>
