KARACHI: SSC students not to get merit scholarship
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, July 26: The Sindh education department has decided not to give merit scholarship to the meritorious students of matriculation examinations in future, but at the same time it has increased the cash awards amount for other students, it was learnt officially.
The government has allocated an mount of Rs10 million for distribution among the students who passed their board examinations with distinction during the year 2002. Last month, the then education minister had stated that the number of cash awards would be increased, while the value of the award being given to the meritorious students of SSC and HSC annual exams would remain unchanged.
Sources in the education department said that a recent meeting in the department had decided to increase the value of cash awards from Rs15,000 to Rs25,000 each, and to drop the students securing positions in the SSC annual examinations from the list of beneficiaries. The meeting also decided not to award O/A level students in future as they were not tested under any local examinations system.
Under the merit scholarship scheme, effected during the year 2001-2002, 666 students of SSC and HSC annual exams 2001 in the province were selected for the cash awards, amounting to Rs9.99 million. However, the BISE Larkana and the BISE Sukkur, who have been provided the amount, still have to distribute the scholarships, said the sources.
The bureau of curriculum and extension wing has been made responsible for distribution of the awards money for the second time. Last year, due to shortage of time, the bureau had to seek collaboration of educational boards for the purpose, but now in view of the fresh criteria finalized at the higher level it is likely that the bureau would have to undertake an extensive exercise.
When contacted, the provincial coordinator for the bureau, Dr Mehboob Ali Shaikh, said under a revised policy in regard to the scholarship, the government wanted to support the meritorious students desiring to continue higher education after passing their HSC examinations with good percentage. Now the merit scholarship has been renamed as poverty-cum-merit scholarship, and would be issued to the HSC students after certain verifications, he added.
He said that ratio of boys and girls in this regard would be 50:50, but they would be selected for scholarship on the basis of weightage, which would be determined in view of the marks that the students secured in the HSC examinations, and financial position of their parents.
The bureau would hand over the scholarship amount to selected candidates only after getting confirmation from the medical, engineering or other professional institutions as well as universities that they are enrolled for higher education.
It was learnt that 70 per cent weightage would be given to candidates’ merit in examinations, while another 30 per cent weightage would be under the head of poverty. It is likely that about 400 scholarship would be given to those students who passed HSC Part-II in 2002.
Candidates having secured less than 60 per cent marks would not be included in the process. The students are also required to clear the examination in the first attempt.
Under the head of poverty, it is required that annual income of a parent should not exceed Rs100,000 or the parent should not be government servant above grade 16, while on the other hand his three children should already be enrolled in public educational institution.
Weightage would also be given to orphan students or those studying at education institutions of rural areas, except at the district headquarters.
