MLAs dissenting note puts spoke in plans of Mangalore University to continue BASLP course

MANGALURU: Move by conventional state universities including Mangalore University that want to retain the right to admit students for Bachelor of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (BASLP) course from forthcoming academic year saw two BJP MLAs record their ‘dissenting note’ at the special meeting of the academic council of the city based university on Monday. The academic council earlier adopted a resolution to this effect.
A directive from the state government had mandated Bengaluru based Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) to handle affiliations and regulate admissions of colleges offering the course in the state.These included five colleges in the city that are offering the course under the science faculty of Mangalore University. Following the directive, these colleges had sought permission to continue admissions to it under the university itself.
Incidentally, the Syndicate of Mangalore University had agreed to a request from these colleges to remain with the university citing various administrative challenges that the global pandemic posed in getting affiliated to RGUHS. P S Yadapadithaya, VC who piloted the agenda said the five colleges will be allowed admit students for the current academic year as a special case and no fresh affiliation given to other colleges to start this course under it.
Dr Y Bharath Shetty, Mangaluru City North MLA and former Syndicate member of RGUHS and his Kaup counterpart Lalaji Mendon said a specialised course like BASLP conventionally should be administered by a health university. Dr Shetty said these courses are administered by health universities in Maharashtra and Kerala and the government directive was borne out of the need to ensure that this course with potential got its due under RGUHS.
Dr Shetty requested Raju Mogaveera, registrar to record his and Mendon’s dissenting note to approval that the council gave to the agenda. VC said the resolution to retain the five colleges offering BASLP course under it for the forthcoming academic year will be sent to the government. Incidentally, additional chief secretary (higher education) in a letter dated June 1 had directed conventional universities offering this course to seek affiliation from RGUHS.
Colleges affiliated to Bangalore University, University of Mysore, Karnatak University, Kuvempu University, Gulbarga University and Mangalore University are offering the BASLP course. The June letter categorically directed these universities to desist from doing so. The course has been recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India that standardised the course curriculum in the field of disability rehabilitation and regulated training centres.