Karnataka: Students in government PU colleges to get lessons in life skills

Bengaluru: In a bid to help pre-university students cope with the confusion that marks the adolescent years, the Department of Pre-University Education has decided to include ‘Life Skills’ lessons for PU students at all the 1,299 state-run colleges starting next academic year.

Incidentally, the decision comes not long after the Department of School Education and Literacy announced its intention to include ‘value education’ as part of the curriculum for students from classes one to ten. The Department of PU Education is currently framing the syllabus for ‘Life Skills’. Given that nearly half of the current academic year has elapsed, it was decided to introduce these classes from 2026-27.

An official in the PU Education Department stressed the need to offer guidance to pre-university students. “They are at a very confusing age, and also have many aspirations. They need guidance to decide what is right and what is not. Furthermore, there has been a disturbing rise in incidence of suicide over trivial issues. There is a growing need for value-based moral education that equips students with skills needed to negotiate all kinds of situations in life. We decided on including ‘Life Skills’ lessons in the PU curriculum after holding discussions with psychologists and education experts,” said the official.

The 3.38 lakh students at the 1,299 government PU colleges in the state will be taught ‘Life Skills’ lessons for only one or two hours in a week, to ensure these classes do not become an additional burden. The PU Education Department is planning on appointing counsellors and subject experts to take these classes.