Students of DAV Kapildev Public School in Ranchi. Udaan will help selected schoolgirls crack engineering entrance

Medical for girls, engineering for boys, goes conventional wisdom in India.

Challenging this mindset is a new CBSE project — Udaan — designed with the aim to help girls pursuing pure science stream in Plus Two crack the engineering entrance.

The primary aim of Udaan is to give selected schoolgirls in Classes XI and XII free guidance for better performance in joint engineering examinations.

For selected students — 1,000 girls will be chosen based on merit-cum-means, with 50 per cent reserved for SC/ST and backward classes — Udaan will open an online study portal, helpline, and distribute tablets and study materials, as well as arrange tutorials and peer engagements.

The scheme is for girls from all boards, merit being the only criterion.

Applicants must have 70 per cent aggregate and 80 per cent in science and maths in Class X and 75 per cent in science and maths in Class XI. Preference will be given to girls from economically weaker backgrounds who can’t afford expensive coaching. The last day to receive the applications is October 27.

“It is a great opportunity for girls to fulfil their dreams of an engineering career. Response from schools here is pretty encouraging,” said M.K. Sinha, Ranchi city coordinator of Udaan and principal of DAV Kapil Dev.

“I have forwarded the email to all city schools. The process of selection will be based on merit and means and therefore, principals will have to recommend names of the selected girls,” said Vipin Sharma, the Jamshedpur co-ordinator for Udaan.

She added that even while their assessment is on, students can collect reward points, which can be redeemed towards their fees in the IITs and NITs.

“Nationwide, the enrolment of girls in premier engineering colleges is only 23 per cent. That’s why Udaan is such a welcome step by the CBSE. In our school too, there are many girl students who are excellent in academics but their homes might not have the financial muscle to allow them to pursue engineering. I’ve told girls of my school about the criteria and we’re counselling parents and students,” said Ranchi-based Surendranath Centenary School principal Samita Sinha.

Students are pretty enthused about the scheme as well.

Ranchi eleventh grader Anjali Kumari, a student of DAV Kapil Dev, who has applied online for Udaan, said: “This is a golden opportunity for us to crack the IIT as we can avail study materials, tutorials and other services for free. We will save a huge amount of money otherwise spent on coaching classes.”

For more details, parents and students can visit www.cbseacademic.in. Students can apply online, or submit applications to their city coordinator or directly write to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), 4th Floor-Shiksha Sadan, 17 Rouse Avenue, New Delhi – 110002.

Do families discourage girls with a mathematical bent of mind from engineering even today? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com