Bengaluru: Failure to get the minimum score of 3.26 stipulated by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) may deprive Bangalore University (BU) of its distance education programme for the academic year 2018-19.

According to the latest University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, higher education institutions are required to get NAAC score of 3.26 and above. BU’s current score stands at 3.16 which is marginally lower than UGC’s requirement for conducting distance education courses. On February 21, the second amendment to the rule came into force, wherein UGC stipulated a minimum score of 3.26 for recognition.

BU was prevented from conducting distance Education programmes during three academic years in the past, starting from 2013-14. However, UGC granted permission to BU for subsequent two years, i.e., 2016-17 and 2017-18. Even this year, BU plans to go ahead with the distance education courses, despite uncertainties following UGC’s new guidelines.

Professor B C Mylarappa, Director of the Department of Distance Education, Bangalore University remained confident of convincing the UGC authorities over the issue. He plans to meet the UGC chairman to get the desired clearance for conducting distance education programme this year too.