GULBARGA: The Academic Council of Gulbarga University on Thursday urged Governor T.N. Chaturvedi, who is also the Chancellor, to reconsider his decision not to accord permission to the university to start distance education programme from this academic year.

The Academic Council meeting, which discussed in detail the letter written by the Chancellor, passed an unanimous resolution to request Mr. Chaturvedi to reconsider his decision, allow the university to start the programme and open up avenues of higher education to those who cannot afford to attend normal classes.

Vice-Chancellor V.B. Countinho, who endorsed the views of the members of the council, said the Minister for Higher Education D. Manjunath has convened a meeting of all Vice-Chancellors in Bangalore on October 24 to discuss the issue of conventional universities starting distance education programme, problems encountered by varsities that had already started distance education programmes, and encourage the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) to extend the distance education programme.

J.S. Patil, Dean of the Department of Law, said that the starting of distance education programme by the conventional universities will not hinder the growth of KSOU. Students will have the option to choose the university that offers the best course in distance education. Competition among conventional universities to offer the best courses should be encourages, as it will ensure delivery of quality education, he added.

His views were supported by other members of the council.

Prof. Coutinho said the university, which had already started the admission to distance education programmes this year in anticipation of the approval to the proposal submitted to the Chancellor, had no other option but to give up the move to start the programme. Students, who had already enrolled themselves, can either demand refund or join the courses offered by KSOU.

The members pointed out that other conventional universities such as Bangalore, Mysore, Karnataka, and Kuvempu had already started distance education programmes. Gulbarga University should not be prevented from starting the programme, as it will deprive students of the region from getting the benefits of distance education programme.

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