PUNE: The Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU) may introduce Marathi as a medium for writing exams starting next year. The option to write exams in Marathi will come as a huge relief to rural students, who are not well-versed in English and Hindi. "There are 12 courses in agriculture and most students who opt for them are from rural areas. Hence, we thought of introducing Marathi as the medium of writing answers for some exams," said Kalpana S Gupte, regional director of the Indira Gandhi Open University.

However, the syllabus or medium of teaching will not change to Marathi. "The medium of teaching doesn't pose a problem as teachers here teach in Hindi and Marathi. The problem arises when the students are asked to write in Hindi," said Gupte. Gupte said that the proposal to introduce four subjects, including sericulture, bee keeping, bachelor of preparatory program and organic farming, has been sent to the University Grants Commission (UGC).

"Proposals have also been sent to open centres in Jalna and Sangli. Meanwhile, we are planning to open centres in Nandurbar, Dhule and Osmanabad," she added. The Indira Gandhi Open University will start new courses like diploma in water shed management, water harvesting, masters in gender and development studies from July, this year.