Ranchi: The state govt will sponsor coaching for 300 Scheduled Tribe students who passed their Class X board exams. The initiative, spearheaded by the department of welfare, aims to prepare students for medical and engineering entrance exams such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Joint Entrance Examination, and other national-level competitive tests. Class X passouts will be enrolled after a merit-based selection process. Once selected, they will be provided with residential facilities and comprehensive coaching support until their Class XII board exams and entrance preparations. Apart from the Jharkhand Academic Council board, students of the Central Board of Secondary Education and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education boards will also be given the opportunity to enrol in coaching. The department has floated a tender to select coaching institutions of national repute. The welfare department will ensure that all students from Scheduled Tribes (ST) have equal access to this opportunity. Officials added that the selected institutes will also be required to offer mock tests, sub-topics, study materials, and personalised mentorship to help students compete at the national level. The tender specifies that only nationally reputed institutes with a proven track record of preparing students for NEET and JEE will be eligible. Apart from the welfare department’s initiative, the school education and literacy department also runs similar schemes to support talented students preparing for competitive exams. Minister of scheduled caste, tribe and backward class welfare department, Chamra Linda, said, “Only those institutions with a proven track record and strong mentorship ecosystem would be selected for the programme. The initiative is part of the mission to uplift students from underprivileged backgrounds and integrate them into mainstream professional education pipelines.” Roma Tirkey, a student of Class IX at Dani Public School, Khunti, said, “This is a good opportunity for students like us from tribal communities. Getting access to top coaching for NEET and JEE without any financial burden gives us the confidence to dream big. I’m truly grateful that the state is investing in our future and helping us compete at a national level.”
