Patna: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) has decided to offer 100 per cent fee waiver to SC/ST and transgender students from the 2018-19 academic session.

SC/ST students will get 100 per cent fee waiver in all academic programmes, which include certificate level, diploma level, undergraduate courses and MPhil courses. The certificate-level course has a duration of six months, diploma one year and undergraduate three years. The university has decided to offer a fee waiver to SC/ST students so that a large number of students from these communities get enrolled into Ignou courses.

Apart from offering fee waiver to students from these communities, the university has also decided to create awareness among SC/ST students about different courses being offered by the open university. Senior Ignou officials from Patna zone will visit villagers having a sizeable SC/ST population.

Abhilash Nayak, regional director of Ignou Patna zone, visited Khagual in this connection on Wednesday and addressed people belonging from SC/ST communities about IGNOU programmes. Nayak said: "The Ignou Patna centre has adopted an SC village, Goregama, in Khagaul. Students going for Ignou courses will get fee education."

The Ignou Patna centre has also decided to set up study centres at jails located in 16 districts. Inmates in different jails will be provided study materials at the prison study centres. The Ignou Patna centre covers 17 districts of south and central Bihar districts. New study centres will be opened in Aurangabad, Arwal and Nawada districts.

The regional director on Thursday announced that the new and permanent Ignou campus coming up in Mithapur on four acres will be functional from August 15 this year. It will have total built-up area of 56,000sqft.

Nayak said: "Once we move to the new campus, we will set up placement cell, especially for those pursuing technical courses such as MCA and others." The campus will be a green one with all modern facilities, including canteens for students.