CM extends loan scheme to students who want to study outside Delhi

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Tuesday that the Delhi government’s ‘Higher Education and Skill Development Guarantee Scheme’, which provides financial support from the banking system to meritorious students from the Capital, will be extended to students who want to pursue education outside the State as well. Earlier, the scheme was limited to those who wanted to pursue higher education in Delhi.

The announcement came at an interaction that the Chief Minister, along with Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia, had with 372 children from Delhi government schools who had cleared IIT-JEE (Mains) at the Talkatora Stadium.

Tips handed out

While congratulating the students and seeking feedback on how the Delhi government could help students prepare for competitive exams better, Mr. Kejriwal, speaking from his own experience as a student of IIT-Kharagpur, told the students that they must enjoy the next four years of their lives while studying engineering.

“No matter which engineering college you get into, don’t allow yourself to remain a bookworm. Instead of only chasing after good grades, participate in cultural and sports activities. That is what will build your personality,” he said. He also reminded students that their education was possible due to the money collected from tax payers and that they must give back to society after they completed their studies.

Mr. Sisodia, in his interaction with the students, called them “brand ambassadors of Delhi government schools” as their success will change the attitude of many people who look down upon government schools. They outlined the work in the education sector undertaken by the Delhi government and highlighted how small successes are changing parents’ outlook about government schools.

‘Better coaching needed’

At the interaction, students suggested that career counselling be given to students in Class IX so that they can decide which stream to choose after Class X. The students also opined that the Delhi government should do more by the way of coaching classes to help them prepare for competitive examinations. Mr. Kejriwal also said that they were working on how to do away with evening-shift schools as it was not good for the biological clock of a student if they attended school in the evening.

Source: The Hindu