A record number of 24 students from TS Model School in Elgandal village have secured the Central government-sponsored National Means-cum-Merit (NMMS) scholarships.
The Union HRD Ministry had introduced the scheme to encourage students to continue studies by providing monthly scholarships of ₹1,000 from class 8 to 12 (Intermediate). The last NMMS exam was conducted in November 2018 and the results were declared recently.
Motivated by principal
It was Elgandal model school principal V. Saritha who motivated the students to appear for the NMMS exam after noticing many dropping out due to financial constraints, and instead, assisting their family in the fields and other trades.
The principal roped in teachers to guide the students to crack the scholarship exam.
Teachers, on their part, conducted special classes during afternoon hours and taught them about the mental ability, reasoning, scholastic aptitude, etc.
During 2015-16, three students of the school had secured NMMS scholarship. The number for 2016-17 remained the same. It went up to 11 in 2017-18, and this year, it stands at 24. The school has recorded cent per cent results since its inception in 2013 and helped several students join IIIT-Basara.
Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Saritha said they were focusing on all national examinations to help poor students pursue higher studies. “Bright students should not stop studying, and hence, we are motivating them and tapping all available resources,” she added.