UoM to start skill development courses for rural students | Mysuru News

Mysuru: The University of Mysore will launch skill development courses in government first grade colleges in Hassan and Chamarajanagar that were shifted to other districts by the state higher education department citing students’ strength.
Recently, the state government had announced plans of shifting six government first grade colleges with less than 100 students, to other districts. As part of the decision, Terakanambi Government FGC in Gundlupet taluk in Chamarajanagar was shifted to Kudachi in Belagavi district and Hethur Government FGC in Sakleshpura taluk in Hassan was shifted to Hebbal in Bengaluru.
In order to help students in these colleges to continue their education, the state admitted them to other colleges in the district.
Following a protest by the students of Terakanambi over shifting of their college to Belagavi, deputy chief minister and higher education minister CN Ashwath Narayana Gowda has directed the University of Mysore authorities to start skill-oriented courses under the new National Education Policy 2020 in these two colleges.
University of Mysore syndicate member E C Ningaraj Gowda told TOI that the recent syndicate meeting decided to start skill development programmes in these colleges.
“As the students expected to join these courses are from poor financial background, decisions were taken to start programmes that create jobs in their region. As Sakleshpura is noted for coffee cultivation, we have courses on coffee cultivation, cash crops, dairy farming among others by adopting new technologies. Similarly, at Terakanambi, courses like sericulture, dairy farming, horticulture and others will be taught. Students will also learn other subjects, including computers,” he said.
Ningaraj Gowda said the colleges will be started on self-finance scheme to prevent financial burden on government.
“There are also plans to start hostel facilities for students as the campuses are in remote places. Short term courses like tailoring, sewing and others will be taken up for villagers. A syndicate sub-committee and syndicate expert committee will be formed to chalk out a plan and a report will be submitted to the government. The courses will start from next academic year,” he added.