On July 13, the Karnataka Unaided PU Colleges’ Management Association (KUPMA) held a meeting with Social Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa at Vidhana Soudha. The meeting, chaired by Vidhana Sabha Speaker U T Khader, included the principal secretary of the education department and the PU board director.
Minister Bangarappa promptly responded to KUPMA’s requests, instructing the renewal of recognition for private unaided pre-university colleges for 10 years from the current academic year. He assured that only online application documents would be verified, with colleges ready to pay the necessary fees.
KUPMA urged that if a student drops out, no fee refund should be mandatory and requested the government to avoid issuing circulars enforcing compulsory refunds. They also emphasized that education department policies should consider private colleges’ experiences and suggestions.
KUPMA stressed the need for error-free, high-quality examination papers within the syllabus, opposing the decision to conduct three exams due to concerns over quality and time management. They advocated for one main and one supplementary examination, with a clear syllabus published at the academic year’s start.
Additional requests included not imposing new building conditions on existing colleges, allowing adequate time for document uploads to the SATS portal, and avoiding grace marks in final exams to maintain education quality. They also called for timely permissions for new colleges or additional sections, a well-prepared academic calendar, and a collaborative approach to scheduling competitive and practical exams.
Ministers and officials, including PU director Sindhu B Rupesh, responded positively to KUPMA’s 15 demands, showing a commitment to addressing their concerns.