Scheme to ensure SC students' access to public school mooted

New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) In a major move to ensure Scheduled Caste(SC) students access to quality education, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is considering provision of scholarship to those of them who get admission in public schools.

As many as 24000 scholarships would be created to benefit these students, who were so far not able to study in English medium public schools because of very high cost of education, sources in the Ministry said.

The scholarship would be available from class one to high school.

The move is being contemplated in view of the increasing school dropout rates for ST students. It is estimated that about 70 per cent of students belonging to these classes drop school by the time they reach high school, the sources said.

The institution of scholarship for the meritorious among ST students would go a long way in encouraging them to continue their education.

The emphasis on education in public schools is being placed in view of the fact that students belonging to these weaker sections are sometimes deprived of high-level jobs because of poor grip on english language.

The Ministry was also considering to provide computers to ST students studying in class six and Ten plus level.

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