The relaxation granted by the State Department of College Education for international and non-Karnataka students to study Kannada at the undergraduate level has angered the Kannada Development Authority (KDA).

Following the revised order issued by the department on Wednesday preventing international and non-Karnataka students from studying Kannada in the first four semesters and limiting it to one semester in the first year, KDA President TS Nagabharana, wrote to Minister of Higher Education, Dr CN Ashwath. Narayan and the additional chief secretary of the Department of Higher Education asking them to review the order.

‘Has no sense’

In the letter, Nagabharana said that offering relaxation to international and non-Kannada students from learning or studying Kannada does not make sense.

“There is no need to reduce the duration of learning Kannada only for the benefit of international and non-Karnataka students.

Kannada is the official language of Karnataka and relaxing after learning the language does not make sense, ”he explained.

Nagabharana expressed confidence to DH that the authorities concerned would overturn the order.

“I am sure that the minister concerned and the officials of the higher education department will understand the problem and maintain the previous order,” he said.

He said the KDA would be forced to act more severely if the department ignored their request.

The state college education department, which made kannada (functional kannada) compulsory for international and non-Karnataka students in the first two years of the undergraduate course, revised the ordinance on Wednesday as a result. objections from private colleges and students.

In the revised order, the department has relaxed and reduced the first four semesters to any semester during the first year of the course for international and non-Karnataka students as well as for those who have not studied Kannada. up to pre-university.

As part of the National Education Policy (NEP), the state higher education department previously made the study of Kannada compulsory for the first two years.

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