Poor vision of leadership, UoM Syndicate

Sir,

This morning I read the news that the University of Mysore (UoM) has decided to close down the School of Foreign Languages which was teaching 6 foreign languages. Reason: The school was not getting minimum 15 students in each language.

I am sad to say that this decision speaks volumes of poor vision of leadership and the Members of Syndicate.

How easy it is to close a School or Department in a University but how hard it is to start one new programme?!

A visionary leader should explore a number of options. A few that come to my mind immediately are:

1. Reduce minimum intake to five or any reasonable number; after all, 15 is not Biblical or Bhagavad Gita proscription.

2. Reduce fee to encourage foreign language learning by the students. I know that 5,000 students of campus are not counselled for the significance of foreign language in the emerging global job market.

3. Special programmes for employed persons, weekend programmes for language enthusiasts can be started.

The authorities should work in tandem with teachers as these are purely academic   decisions.

UoM authorities should amend the statutes to allow High School and PU students to take Foreign Language courses.

Vice-Chancellors go abroad a dozen times. They should know that a High School student can take graduate papers while in High Schools.

How long will we remain the ‘Lakeer ka Fakeer’ and not realise the educational needs of 21st century and not grow up.

I urge the Mysore University to reverse its decision to close down Foreign Language School and never find such easy solutions in future.

– Prof. Jalees Ahmed Khan Tareen (JAK Tareen), Padma Shri, former Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University, Pondicherry University and UGC Member, Mysuru, 19.2.2025

Note: Prof. Tareen was formerly teaching at Department of Geology, UoM. —Ed

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