From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 26: Finally, the colleges in Karnataka are set to reopen from October. But online classes for college students will commence from September 1.
Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwatha Narayan, who is also the minister for Higher Education, in Bengaluru on Wednesday announced the schedule for commencement for the academic year 2020-21 for various degree courses.
Speaking to reporters after the inauguration of various development works in Subramanya Nagar of Ward No. 66 in Bengaluru, he said that the department is awaiting guidelines from the central government on conducting offline classes as well as the few degree exams to be conducted in September.
Therefore, he said the State Government has decided to get the ball rolling on all academic activities online from next month. In addition, all colleges will start in October and students are expected to physically attend the classes.
The State Government has already made comprehensive preparations for starting offline classes following the guidelines set by the UGC.
Dr Narayan said the State Government will additionally follow the directions from the Central Government as they come.
Final Year Examinations
Along with the commencement of the academic year, final year examinations will be scheduled for all the undergraduate, diploma and engineering students.
Additionally, exams for those students who hold backlogs will also be conducted. These decisions have been taken in the sole interest of the students to ensure their bright future, the Deputy Chief Minister said.
NEET Exam
The State Government has successfully conducted the CET for more than 1.94 lakh students. In addition, 63 COVID Positive students have also achieved good ranks by confidently taking the exam.
“When the reality is so conducive, I do not understand why people are opposing the NEET from being conducted. I would like to advise all of them that they should not play with the future of the children. I suspect that there is something fishy about the issue,’’ he asserted.
He wondered if certain invisible groups want seats allocated through an opaque 'system' rather than on the basis of merit.
Some vested interests have been trying to disrupt the NEET examination since the beginning. There is a huge ecosystem behind it with efforts going on for many years now.
"However, their objectives will remain unfulfilled,’’ he claimed.
Dr Narayana said that the NEET needs to be conducted as it is a well-structured exam which allows students to take up admissions throughout the country with just one test.
There is certainly malice involved in the widespread opposition to NEET but the state government stands well-prepared for the test and will conduct it smoothly, he said.