Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi: Tamil made compulsory for undergraduate students

[Harold Schiffman]

Date:31/01/2008 URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/31/stories/2008013153360400.htm
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Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Tamil made compulsory for undergraduate students



Staff Reporter



At Bharatidasan university from the coming academic year  Only those
with knowledge of Tamil will be eligible to apply

Varsity to offer bridge courses for those who do not know Tamil


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TIRUCHI: With the Standing Committee on Academic Affairs of
Bharathidasan University clearing the proposal for a common course
structure for undergraduate programmes under Choice-Based Credit
System, study of Tamil has been made compulsory for undergraduate
students with effect from the coming academic year. Hitherto, Part I
was meant for study of (any) Language. Henceforth, it will be Tamil.
Twelve out of 140 credits for the undergraduate programme has to be
earned from Part I, which consists of four courses (three credits per
course).  Citing the procedure in other States and abroad,
Vice-Chancellor M. Ponnavaikko emphasised that only those with
knowledge of Tamil would qualify to pursue undergraduate programmes in
Tamil Nadu.

Referring to the practice of a section of schools in the State
providing alternatives for the study of Tamil for students at the
higher secondary level, Prof. Ponnavaikko explained that once all the
universities in the State insisted on knowledge of Tamil for admission
to undergraduate programmes, such schools were bound to make changes.

He said the university was prepared to offer bridge courses for
applicants who did not know the language. English language courses
with similar number of courses and credits come under Part II.

Students with the aptitude for a third language have been provided an
option to study the same under a component of Part IV (Non-major
courses), without an increase in workload.

For Part III – Major and Allied, 95 credits have been allotted. Sixty
credits (13 to 15 courses with 4 to 5 credits each) are meant for core
courses (including practicals), 15 for electives (4 courses with 3 to
5 credits each), and 20 for allied (5 courses with 3 to 4 credit each)
courses.

Under Part IV, that carries a total of 20 credits, courses in
Environmental Studies and Value Education, with two credits each, have
been made compulsory. Eight credits have been set aside for four
skill-based elective courses, of two credits each.

'Other Non-Major Elective Courses' in Part IV accounts for eight credits.

Part V (extension activities) carries one credit.


  http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/31/stories/2008013153360400.htm


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