Fifty-Five Students bag Chief Minister’s Meritorious Scholarship Scheme for 2020-21
Gangtok: (IPR) A total of fifty-five (55) students from across the state of Sikkim have been selected to undergo higher education in reputed public schools within and outside the State under the Chief Minister’s Meritorious Scholarship Scheme (CMMSS) for 2020-21.
The 55 selected students and their parents attended the counselling cum allotment session organized by the State Education Department, today at Chintan Bhawan.
The programme was graced by Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) as the chief guest.
The Chief Minister in his address congratulated the selected students, and their parents and teachers for the progressive outcome and also thanked the State Education Department for their effort.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government launched CMMSS from the year 2010 with an aim to provide free education to talented and deserving children from an underprivileged family with an opportunity to study in reputed Public Schools both within and outside the State. He stressed that this year, fifty-five students have been selected, instead of fifty, which included five students from the indigenous Lepcha community from Dzongu in North Sikkim, as a special encouragement to them. Till date, 884 Students have taken advantage of CMMSS from Sikkim, he added.
CMMSS has been applauded nationwide because of its successful implementation and result. Lauded as one among the many innovative schemes of the state government, this educational scheme has been able to benefit the economically underprivileged children, he added.
Further, the Chief Minister highlighted on the future policies and programs of the government to impart quality education and informed that four Schools from all the four districts should be converted into model schools of the State with best of the teachers, good quality infrastructure, etc.
Addressing the Principles and Headmaster/Headmistress in the audience, he assured to send them for educational training to foreign countries and within the nation in the days to come.
The Chief Minister also urged the Education Department to arrange an annual exposure tour programmes for students. He also mentioned about the Anti- Drugs Counselling fund separated by the department which will be utilized by the schools, and UPSC coaching camp to be organized at Nar Bahadur Bhandari Degree College from this year onwards.
Minister for Education, Shri Kunga Nima Lepcha spoke about the CMMSS and emphasized on the importance of the scheme. He said that besides converting the desire and dream of the students from poor family into reality, this meritorious scholarship scheme will increase the quality of primary education and generate the sense of competition among students from the primary level. This scheme will also encourage the teachers and aware of the guardian towards the academic performance of their children.
Additional Chief Secretary, Education Department, Shri. G.P. Upadhayaya while informing about the general background of the scheme informed that the number of students sent to the different public schools under this scheme has increased. He spoke about the expectation of the state from the selected students and highlighted the value and importance of school where the seats are allotted. He mentioned that the state government spends about 108 crores of the state budget under this scheme with the dream of a positive outcome for the State of Sikkim.
The programme also had the sharing of experiences by students who had availed CMMSS and got an opportunity to study in reputed schools such as Scindia School Gwalior and St Joshep, Martam, East Sikkim. They expressed their gratitude to the State Government.
The programme also had the screening of a short documentary film on CMMSS prepared by the Education Department.
The function was attended by Deputy Speaker Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Ministers, Advisors, Deputy Mayor GMC, Heads and officers of various Departments, teachers, students, and guardians.