Now students belonging to the minority community can pursue higher education in postgraduate doctoral studies in foreign universities. The government has introduced the ‘Overseas Study’ scheme to provide Rs. 10 lakh per student towards fee and living expenses by way of grant. A GO was issued on Thursday in this connection.
Deputy Chief Minister Muhammad Mehmood Ali told presspersons that the money would be sanctioned in two instalments and the selection would be made through notification in the newspaper and in e-Pass portal in August/September and January/February every year. Rs. 25 crore has been provided in the budget estimates of 2015-16 for the scheme, which will cover 250 students. Thirty-three percent of seats will be earmarked for women.
The government issued orders according administrative sanction for opening 10 residential schools, one per district, at a cost of Rs. 140 crore. Orders were also issued for the establishment of 10 pre-matric hostels for minorities at a cost of Rs. 22 crore. The Chief Minister approved the proposal for provision of Urdu in all schools and colleges as option of study as first language, the deputy Chief Minister said. The government also ordered setting up of a Career Counselling Centre and a Marriage Counselling Centre for minorities.
