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WPC Scholarship fund for needy A/L students to prevent post O/L dropout
View(s):The Western Provincial Council (WPC) is to establish a student scholarship fund to minimise the number of dropouts after the GCE Ordinary Level (OL) exam.
WP Chief Minister (CM) Prasanna Ranatunga told Education Times, this decision was taken because a considerable number of students dropped out of school after OL exams, mainly due to financial constrains.
“There are students willing to do Advanced Level studies but can’t afford to, as tuition fees and study material are costlier than other Grades. Therefore, those who have passed the OL and wish to pursue higher studies, despite financial difficulties, will benefit from this fund,” he said.
Last year, 27,335 of the 46,724 who sat for the OL exam from the province, passed, the Education Times learns.
The CM said that the fund will be established next year and students sitting for the 2015 OL exam will benefit from the fund.
“The annual number of students who will receive the scholarship, the amount and whether it is paid monthly or annually, are presently being discussed,” he said.
According to the CM, funding will be both from WPC funds and income from school canteens. (NF)