Koraput (Odisha): In a bid to provide opportunities to SC and ST children from rural areas to get quality education and facilities available in public schools, Koraput district administration has taken a new initiative.


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It has decided to enroll at least 100 students belonging to these categories in pubic schools under the urban education programme of the state government, officials said.


The SC and ST students would be enrolled in Class I at select public schools in urban areas of the district in first week of this month for the current academic session.


"It is an attempt to ensure that the inherent talent of the students is bloomed and expose them to the spirit of competitiveness and excellence," said Koraput District Collector Jaya Kumar V.


"Though we have planned to enrol 100 students, some more can also be accommodated under the programme," he said.


All the expenses, including school fees, tuition charges, library charges and miscellaneous fees will be borne by the state government and paid to the school on yearly basis, said the collector.


"The administration will provide hostel facilities to the students and ferry them to the respective schools. We will also provide special coaching classes for the students so that they can catch up with other students of the public schools," he said.


The administration has roped in 12 public schools at Koraput, Jeypore, Semiliguda and Kotpad in the district and the select children will be admitted to the schools according to their convenience.


"We have published advertisements inviting applications from the interested SC and ST students to get admitted to the public schools. As some parents are reluctant to send their wards to the public schools, we are counselling them," said district Welfare Officer Trinath Rao.


While 70 per cent of the students will be from ST category, the remaining will be from SC category. In each category, 50 per cent seats will be reserved for girls, he added.