Karnataka Government to End Four-Year Honours Degree Programme Implemented Under NEP
The Karnataka state government has announced its decision to discontinue the option for students to pursue a four-year honours degree programme, which was implemented under the National Education Policy (NEP). An official order to this effect is scheduled to be issued on May 8, following the completion of the second phase of polling in Karnataka on May 7. The higher education department, awaiting the conclusion of the state’s elections, will issue the order, effectively ending the four-year honours courses. This decision will impact the current batch of students admitted under the NEP, who are currently in their third year and will be the last to have the option to continue into the fourth year. During a recent meeting, officials from the higher education department communicated this decision to the vice-chancellors of all state-run universities. The vice-chancellors have been instructed to inform students during the admissions process for the academic year 2024-25 that there will be no four-year honours programmes available, and to admit students only for three-year degree courses. The decision is based on the interim report submitted by the State Education Policy (SEP) commission, led by former chairperson of the University Grants Commission, Sukhadeo Thorat. While the commission requested until August 2024 to submit its final report, it submitted the interim report on the four-year honours programme to address the confusion among students admitted under the NEP. As students are currently in their final year, universities need to clarify whether they will receive a degree certificate or be allowed to continue for the fourth year. The issuance of an official order after the state elections aims to provide clarity on this matter and streamline the higher education system in Karnataka.