From August 1, classes in govt. degree colleges to begin at 9 a.m.

The Department of Collegiate Education has made another flip-flop and announced that classes in government first-grade degree colleges across the State will commence from 9 a.m. with effect from August 1. From this academic year, classes in these colleges commenced at 8 a.m., but it was changed to 10 a.m. recently following pressure from students and faculty members. A lecturers’ association approached Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi and told him that students and faculty members were finding it difficult to reach colleges at 8 a.m. Last academic year, a majority of the colleges had classes from 10 a.m. The department has said that timetable has been tweaked after it received requests from students from coastal districts as well as rural areas citing that there were inadequate transport facilities. An order by M.N. Ajay Nagabhushan, Commissioner, DCE states that colleges that were running in two shifts will, however, have to commence classes at 8 a.m. Laboratory classes will also begin at 8 a.m. There are 411 government first grade degree colleges in the State. H. Prakash, president, Karnataka Government College Teachers’ Association, said they welcomed the move. Students also said the change in timings would bring relief to them.