The Karnataka government is set to discontinue the four-year honours degree program introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP). This decision comes after concerns raised by universities and a recommendation from the State Education Policy (SEP) commission.
Students currently in their third year, enrolled under the NEP, will be the last batch to have the four-year option. The higher education department will formally announce the program's end on May 8th.
Universities have been instructed to begin accepting applications for the upcoming academic year with the understanding that only three-year degree programs will be offered. This decision is based on the SEP commission's interim report, submitted to address confusion among students about the program's continuation.
The commission, led by former UGC chairperson Sukhadeo Thorat, is expected to submit its final report by August 2024. However, the interim report focused specifically on the four-year program due to its immediate impact on current students.
The move comes amidst concerns from universities about their capacity to implement the four-year program effectively, citing limitations in infrastructure and resources.