By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
Patna: To encourage minority students, Bihar will give a one time scholarship to all those who have passed matric (class 10th) with at least 60% marks.
Information available from Govt of Bihar suggests that Rs. 2 crore have been set aside for this scheme for the year 2008-09 budget. Scheme which is called “Chief Minister’s Student Encouragement Plan” will give Rs. 10,000 to each minority student who secured 60% or higher marks in their matric examinations. This money is to encourage them to go for higher education.
District Information System for Education (DISE) data released earlier this month by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), New Delhi revealed that enrollment of Muslims at the primary level in Bihar is only 8.95%. Muslims constitute only 6.6% of upper primary level student body. This scheme will help retain many students in the education system who drop out because of financial reasons.
Details of how and where to apply for this scholarship is not yet available.
Bihar government has also decided to provide free text books to all minority students including Muslims at the primary level.