Karnataka government PU colleges with less than 10 students may shut

BENGALURU: After government schools, now pre-university colleges with less student strength may face closure. Earlier this year, the department of public instruction (DPI) decided to transfer the students of schools having less than 10 enrolments. The department of pre-university education (DPUE) has decided to follow suit but the move will come into effect only from the next academic year.
This year, four government PU colleges in three districts witnessed zero admissions and 14 government PU colleges in five districts recorded less than 10 enrolments.Students of these institutions will be shifted to other colleges.The state has 1,202 PU colleges. Of the 14 colleges with poor student strength, four are in Hassan and Mandya each, three in Ballari, two in Ramanagaram and one in Shivamogga.
In the four colleges which saw ze ro admissions, less than 15 students are pursuing II PU. In the 14 colleges, the II PU strength is less than 25. Lack of infrastucture and poor academic facilities are to blame for the small number. Sources said the teachers in these institutions barely have any work and continue to draw salaries. Once the students are shifted to other institutions, the teachers will also be transferred to colleges which have vacancies.
C Shikha, director, DPUE, told TOI shifting students in the middle of the academic year is not feasible. “We will do so from next year only ,“ she said.
Hold special classes to boost strength
Thimmaiah Purle, president of Karnataka State PU Lecturers Association, said the mushrooming of private PU colleges is leading to poor student strength in government colleges. Instead of shutting down such colleges, the government shouldn't allow private PU colleges to come up in the vicinity of government PU colleges. To attract more students to government colleges, special classes should be conducted, particularly for science students, he suggested.