CTU: Increase scholarships for grade five students
View(s):Last week the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) called on the Government to increase the number of scholarships granted to grade five school children by bringing down the cut off marks to qualify for the scholarship.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said the present cut off marks entail for students to receive a minimum of 80% to 85% to qualify for the scholarship. The cut off marks for different districts vary with a maximum of 169 marks for developed districts including Colombo, Kandy, Gampaha and Galle while a minimum of 157 marks is applicable for the Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts.
This results in only a few students from a lower socio-economic background benefitting. The Government gives scholarships to children in families that earn a monthly income of less than Rs. 15,000 each month. Around 20,000 students receive the bursary of Rs. 500 to Rs. 750 from grades six up to grade 13 for their educational expenses. The last Government increased the number of scholarships by 5,000 in 2019. (CC)