Mangaluru: A delegation of the Karnataka Unaided PU College Management Association (KUPMA) recently met primary and secondary education minister Madhu Bangarappa to review the status of requests submitted over the past two years, flag pending issues, and place new demands.Following the meeting, the minister directed the director of school education (pre-university) to coordinate with departmental officials and hold meetings with KUPMA twice a year to discuss pre-university matters.Association office bearers said more than 63% of students in Karnataka study in over 4,000 private unaided pre-university colleges, and that these institutions face operational challenges while delivering quality, value-based education. Among the issues raised were consultations with KUPMA before implementing the issuance of student transfer certificates through DigiLocker, and the distribution of II PUC pass marks cards bearing the signature and seal of the college principal.Narendra L Nayak, secretary, KUPMA, said the association referred to earlier meetings held on July 14, 2024, and May 15, 2025, attended by the assembly speaker, education minister, and department officials, where key issues were raised for resolution. He said the govt accepted an earlier request to renew building safety and fire safety certificates once every 5 years.Nayak said the minister also responded positively to a proposal to form an education committee comprising experts and instructed director of school education (pre-university), director of DPUE, Bengaluru, to convene a meeting, to which the director of school education Bharath S agreed to hold a meeting with KUPMA members in March.The PU department official said several procedural changes were implemented, including allowing approval of transfer and relocation of private institutions at the department level. It said the online process for starting a new private unaided college was simplified, with requirements reduced from 46 to 23. Applications for new combinations, languages, and additional sections moved fully online, with requirements reduced from 36 to 23.Under 2024 regulations, location verification for new permanent unaided colleges was conducted through random sampling of 5% of applications, while 100% verification was carried out for new combination and language applications over the past five years. From the current year, the department shifted to 5% random sampling for new combination and language applications as well.
