Mysuru/ Bengaluru: All colleges in the State will have to start as early as 8 am. The Department of Collegiate Education will issue a circular today to all colleges asking them to start at 8 am and end at 2.30 pm on all working days.

With this, the Department plans to improve the learning process of students. It also has plans to increase the present 90-day semester period to 110 days.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, Dr. M.N. Ajay Nagabhushan, Commissioner of the Department of Collegiate Education, said that most colleges start at 9 am while a few begin at 10 am. Some colleges have morning and evening classes. The Department has recommended changes with an aim to implement uniform timings, he said.

“If the class starts at 8 am, it can run till 2.30 pm or so. Afterwards, students can be allowed to do something for their learning. If we look at the colleges in cities, many students have part-time jobs, or they do something related to their work. This boosts their growth and if college hours get over soon, they can even sit in the library and study,”  he said.

The Department feels that semester duration should be increased from 90 days to 110 days. This will be adjusted either by cutting down on holidays or examination duration.

“Each semester consists of three months and most of the time is spent in examination and evaluation, internal assessments, college programmes and other holidays. In such a scenario, there is no time for actual classroom learning,” Dr. Nagabhushan said.

DRESS CODE CIRCULAR WITHDRAWN

In the wake of stiff opposition, the Department of Collegiate Education has withdrawn a controversial dress code circular that asked College Principals to ensure that women lecturers mandatorily wore sarees instead of chudidhars.  

Yesterday evening, Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Mysuru, M.K. Umanath, withdrew his July 4 circular that had directed the Principals of government and aided degree Colleges in Mysuru to ensure that women lecturers shunned chudidhars and wore sarees instead.

USE OF MOBILE PHONES

The Department had received complaints against the rampant use of mobile phones by lecturers of degree colleges, allegedly even while they are handling classes. The complainant had pointed out that lecturers not only received calls, but also checked social media updates during classes.

The July 4 circular had also asked the Principals to ban the usage of mobile phones by lecturers inside the classrooms. “This part of the circular will stay while the dress code part is withdrawn,” Dr. Ajay Nagabhushan said. Lecturers, however, can use the mobile phone while in the staff rooms.