MP gives bicycles to students for finishing education

In a bid to reduce the high school dropout rate in Madhya Pradesh, the state government will now provide cheques to parents or guardians of high school students to buy bicycles. Rs 2,300 and Rs 2,400 have been allocated for students of sixth and ninth standards, respectively.

“We are likely to make budgetary provisions of Rs 200 crore towards this scheme this year, against Rs 80 crore last year,” said Ashok Barnwal, commissioner for public instruction.

“Number of dropouts have reduced to a considerable limit with the implementation of this scheme,” Barnwal said. The dropout rate is almost 10 per cent in high schools, primarily girl students, who avoid traveling long distance to attend schools.

 

This year the state education department expects 800,000 students to attain high school education, with this scheme acting as a key motivating factor. However, the state has not yet devised any system to monitor how school heads would ensure the money paid to parents is utilised for the purpose of purchasing bicycles.