Karnataka Continues with old Education Policy and Rejected NEP

The Karnataka government, in a move that reflects its responsiveness to student and college concerns, has decided to revert to the three-year degree programme (with no option for a fourth year) for the academic year 2024-25. This decision comes as a response to the worries expressed by students and colleges about the need for clarity in pursuing a four-year degree plan under the NEP, demonstrating the government's commitment to addressing the needs of its educational community.

Led by Prof. Sukhadeo Thorat, a government order was issued on Wednesday in response to the recommendations of the State Education Policy Commission. The four-year programme was optional in NEP-2020. However, the changes will have zero impact on the students who enrolled in academic years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023- 24 and will be applicable only for admissions of 2024-25 onwards.

Even so, the government has yet to decide on multiple entry-exit options, such as a certificate after the first year, a diploma after the second year, a degree after three years, and honours after the fourth year.

"The recommendations are based on historical experience, the principle of overall interests of the students, equity, social justice and equal opportunity to students from different socio-economic backgrounds. The commission said the reason for the change in the structure and duration of degrees to four years shows that the objective is the desire to bring parity with the global education systems, especially the United States system, to facilitate the admission of undergraduate students to do a master's degree abroad," said the order.

"Keeping a four-year degree programme would potentially reduce access to undergraduate education for the poor and socially disadvantaged groups such as scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women, and students from rural areas. Further, lack of physical infrastructure and non-availability of facilities and faculty have been mentioned as one of the reasons for the unwillingness of the colleges to start a four-year UG programme," it added.

The government has ordered all the universities and institutions to commence the affiliation and admissions process for the academic year 2024-25 using the Unified University College Management System portal.