MADURAI: Madurai Kamaraj University has given shape to its `Focus Singapore' plan, opening two study centres in Singapore and launching a full-time B.A. in Tamil to meet the needs of the Tamils in that country.

While the study centres will start functioning from December 1, the course begins on January 1. The Directorate of Distance Education has made arrangements for admission at the centres, distribution of study material and faculty visits.

Vice-Chancellor P. Maruthamuthu, who visited Singapore last week to finalise the details, told The Hindu on Sunday that the initiative was in response to the long-felt need of the Tamils. "The Tamil people in Singapore are happy with our entry. Our study centres give them hope."

The university has tied up with the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), University in Singapore, to introduce the course. While the academic support such as the syllabus, faculty and the study materials will be provided from Madurai, the institute will conduct classes and examinations.

S. Vadivelu, Director, Distance Education, says the faculty from the Tamil Department of the university, will go to Singapore periodically to conduct classes. The Vice-Chancellor has inspected the infrastructure and the study centres.

Era. Mohan, Head, Department of Comparative Literature (Tamil), who will lead a faculty team to Singapore in January, says the employed people and Tamil teachers will find it easy to attend classes between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. As many as 50 persons have evinced interest in the course.

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