Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: In a bid to realize the dreams of hundreds of meritorious students of northeast region who belong to economically backward families, ERD Foundation, which has already made a mark in the educational scenario of the region, has come forward to provide free of cost education.
The foundation under which there are several higher education institutes are running in Assam and Meghalaya has decided to provide free education to 40 meritorious students who are from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
ERDF Chairman Mahbubul Hoque (c) addressing the press on Saturday.
“We will be glad if we will be able to help and realise the dreams of those students who, in spite of having the potentiality, could not continue their further studies only because of their financial hindrance. This has been our motive since we started the journey,” ERD Foundation chairman Mahbubul Hoque told reporters at Guwahati Press Club on Saturday.
Accordingly, any poor student from any background who has acquired 60 per cent of marks in the qualifying exams will get admission in any of the institutes of the foundation. The entire course fee will be bear by the institute.
“We invite the meritorious students to come to join us. We have seen there are plenty of talents in the rural areas of the state but due to the lack of financial assistance or exposure they cannot continue their studies. I hope if such students come to us, our dreams will be fulfilled,” Hoque added. The admission for the session will continue till August 28.
So far, there are 400 students studying in different colleges of ERDF without paying a penny under this scheme. He also said hat out of 900 engineering students, 80 students are being provided free education.
“Besides, we can provide various scholarships to those students if they are meritorious enough to meet these criteria. Our target is to give free education to at least 10 per cent of the students,” Hoque said.
Meanwhile, University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya of ERDF has signed a MoU with HiTec Education Centre, Ireland for various research related works. It will open up scope for exchange of faculty, students, joint research programme and others.