Odisha plans to fund the education of bright poor SC/ST students in top private schools of the state
February 11th, 2010
Update: As per another report in tathya.in the Odisha ST & SC development department plans to also support SC and ST students joining Sainik School. Another great move by the department and its visionary secretary Ashok Tripathy.
Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.
… The Department of ST & SC Development has set in motion a pioneering proposal to help out the bright students of the ST and SC categories.
… it is proposed to select at least 100 students from the ST and SC communities strictly on merit to reimburse their entire expenditures for studying in the best schools of the State from Classes-I to XII, said an official.
There are a number of residential schools of international standard in the State. Leading the list are Sai International, KIIT International, DPS, Phulnakhara, DPS, Damanjodi, DPS, Angul, DAV Public School at Unit VIII, Bhubaneswar.
… The students selected for admission will be provided tool kits and proper baggage so that they will not feel inferior to their affluent classmates. They will be provided to-and-fro journey expenses from the schools to their native places during holidays.
It should be noted that the RTE bill and its draft rules requires something similar. But kudos are due to the Odisha SC & ST department and its secretary Ashok Tripathy for taking proactive steps and having it implemented early in Odisha.
Entry Filed under: DPS Kalinga,HRD of Tribals and/or Tribal areas,K-12,SC/ST/OBC/minority schemes
3 Writeup
1. SM | February 11th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
This is a very nice initiative. The only problem is ‘strictly on merit’. The strictly merit should be replaced by merit-cum-means to avoid the creamy layer getting all the benefits, as has been happening in the rest of the reservation system.
If the number of students is going to be within 100, then an additional help can also be extended. Government, either on its own or with the help of other organization, should also allocate some amount of funds to be invested in the locality the kid lives in. This will encourage the locality/community to promote their kids to focus on studies. And more importantly, one should also ensure the quality of the extra-school environment of the meritorious child we are sending to best private school.
2. Prashant K Sahoo | February 13th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
It is indeed a good step by creating such opportunities poor students.
But I am curious about the statement
“..There are a number of residential schools of international standard in the State ..”
Do they know what is Interanational Standard ? Or is it a buzz words used as advertisement ?
3. Prashant K Sahoo | February 13th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Looking at the private schools mentioned in the list as the best school of Odisha branding it as the INTERNATIONAL STANDARD , I am not sure what will be the success rate.
Instead , Govt. should take initiative in the line of Andhra Pradesh for Rural youth and meritious students. One can visit to find the details ( This is called real dream and vision )
http://www.rgukt.in/