Keonjhar Dist to Provide Free Uniforms, Textbooks and MDMs to Class IX, X Students

Keonjhar: In a remarkable step to reduce the dropout of students after class VIII, the Keonjhar district administration has announced to provide free textbooks, uniforms and midday meals to Class IX and X students of all government and aided schools across the district.

Besides, the Class X students, who will perform well in the board examinations conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), will get scholarships from Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000 based on their performance, according to a release issued by the district I&PR Department.

The move aims at reducing dropout rate, encouraging students for high school studies and addressing their nutritional needs will be rolled out by the district mineral foundation (DMF) from the current academic year, the release said.

It is being noticed that less than 60 out of every 100 children who enroll in Class 1 continue their studies beyond Class X in the district. One of the primary reasons behind their dropout is withdrawal of free textbooks, uniforms and mid-day meal after Class VIII.

Since more than 55% of the district’s population belongs to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, the initiative is expected to transform secondary education in the coming years.

The initiative will be implemented at a cost of Rs 22 crore per annum under DMF following the recommendations of the draft National Education Policy-2019.

It is expected to benefit about 50,000 students of Class IX and X in the district every year.