By Najiur Rahman Sohel

DHAKA, Jan 6, 2025 (BSS) - The interim government has taken a major initiative to enhance scholarships from secondary to higher education levels  for ensuring smooth continuation of studies of the students.   

According to a comprehensive proposal, a 20 percent increase in the number of scholarships doubles both monthly stipends and one-time grants for recipients at the SSC, HSC and graduation levels.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has recently sent the comprehensive proposal to the Ministry of Education in this connection.

If approved, 8,192 new scholarships will be added to the existing 41,000, bringing the total number of scholarships at SSC, HSC and graduation levels to 49,151.

The proposal is expected to significantly ease financial pressure on students and encourage talented learners to continue their education from secondary school through university, if approved.

Director General (Additional Charge) of DSHE Professor B. M. Abdul Hannan told BSS that the proposal was designed to maintain balance across all levels of education.

“If junior-level scholarships are increased without adjusting SSC, HSC and higher education scholarships, it would create an imbalance. Keeping this in mind, we have prepared a comprehensive plan,” he said.

He expressed hope that the Finance Ministry’s approval would allow implementation from the current fiscal year.

Currently, scholarship rates are based on allocations set in the 2015–16 fiscal year. Officials noted that despite a sharp rise in living costs and education-related expenses over the past decade, scholarship amounts have remained unchanged, making them insufficient for students’ basic needs.

After nine years, the government has therefore proposed both increasing the number of beneficiaries and significantly enhancing financial support.

Assistant Director of Planning and Development at DSHE, Kamrun Nahar, said the proposal aims to ensure consistency across all education levels by revising rates for SSC, HSC and undergraduate (honours and pass) scholarships while also doubling monthly stipends and one-time grants.

A Joint Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Department, Saidur Rahman, confirmed that the proposal is under review and will be forwarded to the Finance Ministry once finalized.

SSC Level

Under the proposal, the number of SSC scholarships will increase from 25,500 to 30,600. Of these, 3,600 will be talent pool scholarships and 27,000 general scholarships. Monthly stipends for talent pool recipients will rise from Tk 600 to Tk 1,200, while one-time annual grants will double from Tk 900 to Tk 1,800. For general scholarships, monthly stipends will increase from Tk 350 to Tk 700 and annual grants from Tk 450 to Tk 900. Government expenditure in this sector over two years is expected to rise from Tk 25.78 crore to Tk 61.88 crore.

HSC Level

At the HSC level, scholarship recipients are set to increase by 20 percent, from 10,500 to 12,600. Monthly stipends for talent pool students will rise from Tk 825 to Tk 1,650, with one-time grants increasing from Tk 1,800 to Tk 3,600. General scholarship stipends will rise from Tk 375 to Tk 750 per month, and one-time grants from Tk 750 to Tk 1,500. Total government expenditure over five years is estimated around Tk 74.86 crore, compared to the previous allocation of Tk 31.29 crore. Medical students receiving HSC scholarships will remain eligible for up to five years.

Graduation Level

For undergraduate honours courses, scholarships will increase from 4,650 to 5,580, while graduate pass course scholarships will rise from 309 to 371. At this level, talent pool scholarship stipends will double from Tk 1,125 to Tk 2,250 per month, with one-time grants rising from Tk 1,800 to Tk 3,600. General scholarship stipends will increase from Tk 450 to Tk 900, and one-time grants from Tk 900 to Tk 1,800. Annual government expenditure in this sector is projected at Tk 7.35 crore, up from Tk 3.06 crore previously.