PANAJI
In an effort to reduce the school dropout among the scheduled tribe (ST) students, the State government has decided to bear the Board examination fees of these students from this year onwards. The state is expected to have additional financial implications to the tune of over Rs 67 lakhs annually.
The Education department has introduced a scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Shikshan Sahay Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to the ST students for payment of examination fees of Goa Board for classes X and XII. “The financial burden of the payment of the examination fees will be borne by the Government of Goa,” Director Education Shailesh Zingade said in the notification.
The department said that the State Government is committed in ensuring that the Tribal students get access to education at all levels and will take all steps to see that there is no impediment in the process of learning for the ST students.
“The Government is committed to improve the educational status of the students so that the drop-outs among the ST students is reduced,” the department said.
The National Education Policy 2020 states that special mechanisms need to be made to ensure that children belonging to tribal communities receive the benefits of these interventions.
According to the policy, this scholarship will be available only for the ST Students permanently settled or domiciled as per the terms of domicile decided by the State. The Scheduled Tribes students studying in Std. X and XII in Government/Government Aided Secondary & Higher Secondary Schools will be eligible for financial assistance under this scheme.
