BBMP to start 5 new under-graduation colleges

BANGALORE:  The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will start five new under-graduation colleges from next academic year. With this, Palike will have six under-graduation colleges offering Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor  of Commerce (B Com)affiliated to Bangalore University  (BU) from the academic year 2012-13.According to Ramesh Raju, chairperson, BBMP Standing Committee for Education, Palike has sent proposal to set up five colleges from next year. “We have forwarded the proposal to Bangalore University. A team from BU will inspect the premises, and if everything is approved, Palike will get  five under-graduation colleges,” he said. When asked about faculty, Raju said that the Palike was ready to outsource teaching faculty.While a senior official from BBMP said, presently there were around 5,000 students studying in both first as well as second year Pre-University at all the 12 PU Colleges of BBMP. “Every year on an average, around 2,300 students appear for second PU Exams and of which, at least 50 to 60 per cent clear the exams. With these many aspiring students,  Palike does not have sufficient number of intake to accommodate them in its degree college as the current under-graduation college has an intake of only 80 students.The BBMP at present has one under-graduation college in Kasturba Nagar, where only BA and BCom courses are offered. The purpose to start the new colleges is to  help students from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.However, BBMP officials said they were  setting up under-graduation colleges which will offer Commerce and Arts courses. “Palike may not be able to fund the B Sc courses due to financial constraints,” the official said.