Aarti Kumari had her sights set on civil engineering for a long time and a CBSE project can now help realise her dream.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced Udaan to increase enrolment of girls in engineering colleges. Under the project, 1,000 girls in classes XI and XII across the country will be mentored. Preference will be given to students from the weaker sections of society.

Girls selected will be provided Tablets that will allow them to attend online tutorials and download free resources.

For students like Aarti, the daughter of a private firm clerk, Udaan is a boon like no other. The Class XI student of St Joseph’s High School is confident now.

“I want to become a civil engineer but preparing for an engineering course is quite an expensive deal these days. My parents can’t afford it too. Thanks to the CBSE programme, I have reason to hope now and I have submitted the form on Monday,” said Aarti.

Students can either apply online or submit a copy of the application to the CBSE city co-ordinators by October 27. They will be selected on merit-cum-means basis.

The project is focused on addressing the low enrolment ratio of girls in engineering institutions. CBSE sources said at present, the ratio of boys to girls at the IITs is 14:1. In NITs, the ratio is 10:1.

The girls selected will have access to an online portal, which will be based on subjects taught in classes XI and XII. The study material will be in form of videos, tutorial and text.

To ensure that the students are able to keep pace with classroom teaching, the tutorials will be based on lessons at school. Aarti said: “I was really tense that if I got selected, how would I manage both classroom lessons and tutorials. But features like group chat, helpline, video, tutorials and assessment test will help the students in self-assessment.”

Based on performance assessment, the students will also accrue points which will be converted into money once they get selected for a college (IIT and NIT) on the approved list.