VTU to introduce Kannada learning courses for students

'Kannada Kali' for outstate students and 'Kannada Manasu' for state students

Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) is all set to introduce Kannada courses for engineering graduates from this academic year, 2018-19. The university has issued an official circular to all its affiliated colleges and asked principals to follow it up.

Programmes have been split into two categories — ‘Kannada Manasu’ and ‘Kannada Kali’. While Kannada Manasu is for the students who have already studied Kannada language till Class 10 or equivalent streams, ‘Kannada Kali’ is for the students (basically outsiders), who cannot communicate, read and write
Kannada.

“We are implementing this programme in keeping with the recommendations of the Kannada Development Authority (KDA). We first thought of including basic Kannada language, as most of the students from the state would have already learnt the language till Class 10 and there is no point in making them learn the same thing again. Hence we retained the basic programme exclusively for students from out of the state and introduced Kannada Manasu for students who are already well aware of the language. Kannada Manasu will have an indepth syllabus of Kannada language,” VTU registrar Jaganath Reddy told DH.

This will be mandatory for 3rd and 4th semester students of all streams, and the classes will be held two hours a week. The university will grant two credits for this programme.

Nikhil Hoskoti, a first-year student at Global Academy of Technology, said, “My friends and I were wondering why we should study the same basics when we have learnt this subject for 12 years. However, implementing the basic programme is a good move and we welcome the ‘Kannada Kali’ programme implemented for outsiders as this will help them learn basic communication skills in Kannada language.”