Mysuru: The woes of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) never seem to end. Even as it is reeling under the de-recognition and fake marks card scandal, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has administered one more shock. It has brought about an amendment to the 2007 University Guidelines which was passed by UGC Secretary Rakesh Shukla.

According to the new regulations the study material should be changed, the syllabus should be prepared according to UGC norms and every five years there should be a revision of the same are some of the changes that UGC has imposed.  

The UGC has clearly stated that stress should be laid on the subject more than the courses offered and the Professors and Assistant Professors should be responsible for the courses. The Science departments should have proper lab facilities, it has stated. The rules also said that the University should be prepared with the courses six months in advance.

However, with hardly any activity in the sprawling KSOU campus which has all the required facilities, the question is, will the authorities pick up the gauntlet and raise to the occasion or will they continue to keep making promises of getting the recognition back, but do nothing.

It also looks like the KSOU may have to go through another year without any activity in 2017-18 and as one of the employees on condition of anonymity told Star of Mysore, “It is very sad for us to just come and go every day without any work. The authorities at the helm should make all effort to get the recognition back and see that KSOU is in the forefront of distance education once again and also save the lives of lakhs of students who have enrolled for open university courses in our University.”

It may be recalled that former KSOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa at a recent press conference had thrown a challenge that if he is given the power again, he would resolve the problem and get the recognition within three months.