CHENNAI: Following the overwhelming success of the Puthumai Penn Scheme, which was introduced in 2022 to promote higher education among girl students from economically disadvantaged sections, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu has announced a similar scheme for boys called ‘Tamizh Pudhalvan’, to be implemented at a cost of Rs 360 crore.
Under the scheme, boys who studied classes 6-12 in a government school will be provided monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 for their higher education. The scheme is set to be implemented during the coming academic year, and is expected to benefit around 3 lakh male students.
“The scheme will aid boys from marginalised backgrounds in realising their dreams of higher education, transforming them into achievers,” said Minister Thennarasu during the announcement.
According to experts, the announcement holds much significance as it is directed towards improving the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of boys in higher education, which currently is less than that of girls in the state.
The recently released All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) by the Ministry of Education states that Tamil Nadu’s overall GER in higher education (among those aged 18-23) is 47%. The GER for girls stands at 47.3%, while the boys at 46.8%.
“If we are to improve our overall GER, then we need to focus on the enrolment rates of both boys and girls,” said T Shankaran, a retired school principal.
“Like girls, boys from economically disadvantaged families too face many hurdles in pursuing higher education. So many students from our school, unable to continue their studies, drop out and take up odd jobs. This scheme will immensely benefit them,” said T Muthuraman, a teacher at Corporation Higher Secondary School, Virugambakkam.
TN boys’ GER less than that of girls
The recently released All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) by the Ministry of Education states that Tamil Nadu’s overall Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education (among those aged 18-23) is 47%.
The GER for girls stands at 47.3%, while the state boys’ stands at 46.8%.
