Govt mulls raising number of recipients

The Primary and Mass Education Ministry is planning to increase the number of primary scholarships to 1.50 lakh instead of existing 1.05 lakh considering the rise in the number of students.
The decision was taken in principle at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the ministry recently.
At the same time, the amount of stipend for the scholarship receiving students will also be increased in future, according to the ministry officials.
The officials claimed that following the meeting decision, the authorities of the Department of Primary Education (DPE) and Madrasa Education Board were asked to forward their proposals to the ministry soon.
Following the proposals, the final decisions will be taken.When contacted, the Department of Primary Education Director General DR AFM Manzur Kadir told this correspondent that the authorities of the DPE and Madrasa Education Board had already received the ministry's letter for sending proposals.
"They, including the state minister and the secretary of the ministry, have agreed to increase the number of scholarships and stipends for the students in principle. Following the decision of the inter-ministerial meeting, the letters were sent. They are working in this regards," he added.
At present, a total of 82,500 students of primary schools and 22,500 of Ibtedayee Madrasas get scholarships for their results following the results of Primary Education Completion Examinations (PEC Exams).
The scholarships are given in two categories - talent pool and general - on the basis of highest marks in the PEC examinations. Of the students, 33,000 students get scholarships in talent pool and 49,500 students get in general category.
The students getting talent pool scholarships get Tk 300 for every month while the general category scholarship recipients get Tk 225 monthly.
As the amount is very poor now, the authority is planning to make its more time befitting.