GUWAHATI, Oct 13 � To address the concern of declining girl students� ratio in engineering colleges, the�Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)�is launching a special programme for girls called �Udaan�.
The primary objective behind this special initiative is to bridge the gap of low enrolment ratio of girls in engineering colleges.
The programme also seeks to drive female students, securing decent marks, towards higher studies and encourage them to opt for some specific leadership roles in the future.
Keeping in mind the importance of Science and Mathematics in engineering college admissions across the nation, the Board has launched this project which will particularly address the gap between the school education and engineering entrance examinations.
This project promises to provide free online resources, tutorials, lectures, study materials to girl students of Class XI and Class XII to prepare for admission tests for premier engineering colleges of the country. These will be provided online and on tablets given to students.
The programme is open for all girl students studying in class XI and XII irrespective of their examination board. However, it is essential that student must be from PCM stream and should also have minimum 70% marks in Class 10 overall and 80% in Science and Mathematics. For boards which follow cumulative grade point average (CGPA), a minimum CGPA of 8 and GPA of 9 in Science and Mathematics is a must.
In total 1000 girls will be absorbed in the first year under this special project, in which
50% seats are earmarked for SC/ST/Backward classes. A comprehensive assessment system to result in accumulation of reward points has been drawn up and financial assistance, by means of reward points redeemed towards fees in IITs and NITs, will be provided.
Adding on,�CBSE Chairman, Vineet Joshi said, �Despite India�s considerable progress towards improving access to quality education and promoting gender equality, girls in the country are under-represented in quality institutions of higher education. Moreover, girls from marginal socio-economic sections are found to be at a greater disadvantage. Since closing the gender gap in sphere of education is an important benchmark of development, Udaan will help bridge this gap by improving the socio economic status of females through increased participation in professional and higher education.� Board will provide periodic counselling to motivate students and parents to be a part of this special initiative. CBSE will also start a student helpline, dedicated to enhancing the learning of girl students.� Last date for application is October 27.
