State Cabinet Approves Policy to Address Dropouts Among ST Students

On Wednesday, the state cabinet approved the implementation of the Mukhyamantri Shiksha Sahay Yojana, a new initiative designed to enhance the educational status of Scheduled Tribe (ST) students and address the issue of dropout rates among them. This scheme will provide financial assistance to families of ST students who are unable to pay for public exams, helping ensure they can take exams without financial barriers. The government has allocated Rs 68 lakh annually for the implementation of the scheme.

Under this initiative, the government will cover the examination fees for ST students appearing for Classes X and XII exams conducted by the Goa Board. To be eligible, students must be residents of Goa with a valid caste certificate issued by a competent authority, and they must be regular students with at least 75% attendance in their respective class, whether Class X or Class XII.

The cabinet emphasized the state government's commitment to ensuring that tribal students have access to education at all levels. It vowed to take all necessary measures to remove obstacles to their learning. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, which calls for a special mechanism to ensure that children from tribal communities benefit from educational interventions.

The scheme will be available to ST students who are permanently settled or domiciled in Goa, as defined by the state's domicile terms. It will be applicable to ST students in Classes X and XII at government and government-aided secondary and higher secondary schools. The cabinet noted that the number of students benefiting from this scholarship is expected to be substantial.