Dravidian University Kuppam to introduce Tulu diploma and certificate courses

Dravidian University Kuppam to introduce Tulu diploma and certificate courses

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 21;  The Dravidian University of Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy will offer certificate and diploma courses in Tulu from the current academic year. The university also plans to enroll candidates for Ph.D. and M. Phil. programmes in Tulu studies. 

Palthady Ramakrishna Achar, the president of Karntaka Tulu Sahitya Academy, said that the candidates need not go to Kuppam to attend classes because the academy will conduct classes and examinations in Mangalore and give away the certificates. 

Three university delegates under the leadership of Prof. B. S. Shiva Kumar, head of the department of Tulu studies at the university, visited Mangalore recently to finalize the plan. Prof Kumar said that the university’s board of studies had approved the syllabi for the certificate and diploma courses. Other formalities such as approval of concerned authorities might be obtained within a fortnight, he said. 

Mr. Achar said that the certificate course will be six-months long and the diploma course will be one-year long. Candidates should have passed their pre-university course. Prof Kumar said that those who wish to enroll for M.Phil and Ph.D. programmes must be postgraduates in Kannada with minimum 55 percent marks. The diploma and certificate courses are available in regular as well as distance education formats. 

Calling this a significant move in the promotion of Tulu language, Mr. Achar said that efforts are on to introduce Tulu as the third optional language for Class VI students in Karnataka from this academic year. He also said that the academy will urge the government to appoint separate Tulu teachers in schools.

The Mangalore University offers Tulu as one of the elective papers in its Kannada MA course.