Monday, Jun 21, 2010
Classes will be conducted by Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy in Mangalore

• University is also planning to enrol candidates for M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes in Tulu studies
• Certificate and diploma courses will be offered in both regular and distance education modes

Mangalore: Dravidian University, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, is likely to offer certificate and diploma courses in Tulu in association with the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy from this academic year.

The university is also planning to enrol candidates for M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes in Tulu studies. President of the academy Palthady Ramakrishna Achar told The Hindu on Sunday that candidates need not go to Kuppam to attend classes. The academy would conduct classes here by appointing resource persons and the university would conduct examinations and give certificates, he said.
A three-member delegation of the university, led by B.S. Shiva Kumar, Head of the Department Tulu Studies at the university, visited Mangalore recently to finalise the plan. Prof. Kumar told The Hindu from Kuppam that the Board of Studies of the university had approved the syllabi of the certificate and diploma courses. Other formalities such as approval from the bodies concerned at the university were expected to be completed within a fortnight, he said.

Mr. Achar said the certificate course would be of six-month duration and the diploma course of one-year duration. Those who want to enrol for the courses should have passed pre-university course.

Prof. Kumar said that those who want to enrol for M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes should be postgraduates in Kannada with a minimum of 55 per cent marks.

The certificate and diploma courses will be offered in both regular and distance education modes.

Mr. Achar said this was a significant move as far as promotion of Tulu language was concerned. The process of introducing Tulu as the third optional language for Class six students in the State from this academic year was under progress.

The academy would urge the Government to appoint separate Tulu teachers in schools, he said.

At present, Mangalore University offers Tulu studies as one of the elective papers in the Kannada MA course.