BHUBANESWAR: The performance of students in schools, run by the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development Department, in high school certificate (HSC) examination has improved during the last three years. This is because of several steps taken by the State Government, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development Minister Lalbihari Himirika has said.
To a question from Pravat Ranjan Biswal (BJD) in the Assembly, the Minister said the average pass percentage of students in matriculation examination in the Department-run schools was more than the overall pass percentage in all schools during the last three years.
While the overall success rate in the HSC examination in 2009 was 63.41 per cent, in schools, run by the Department, 72.29 per cent students had passed. In 2010 the figures were 71.74 per cent and 80.79 per cent. The success rate was 79.99 per cent in 2011 compared to 66.75 per cent overall. The State Government has initiated several measures for improving the quality of education imparted to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students. The Minister also said 2,000 posts of siksha sahayaks have been created for appointment in ashram schools and sevashrams.
For regular health check-up of the students, 336 posts of auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) have been created, he said. Scholarships of students, residing in hostels, have been increased. He said scholarships for boys have been increased from ` 500 to ` 600 a month while for girls it has been from ` 530 to ` 630. Besides, the Department is also providing 15-kg rice a month to each student at ` 2 a kg.
He said arrangements had been made for imparting special coaching for engineering entrance examination to select students from high schools run by the Department. He also said a decision had been taken to impart coaching for medical entrance examination to 100 talented SC and ST students in 2012-13.