Assessing the knowledge of students regarding post matric scholarship scheme

Introduction

Scholarships serve as government financial aid for students facing economic challenges that hinder their ability to afford education or continue attending school, college, or university. They play a vital role in supporting financially struggling students (Mae et al., 2016) [1] . Consequently, scholarship programs are established to assist students in pursuing education and achieving future success. One prominent and well-recognized scholarship initiative for undergraduate students in India is the National Merit Scholarships. The cost of education, including college fees, books, and other academic necessities, can be substantial for students. A full-time college student often incurs significant expenses, making scholarships an essential source of financial relief. Students and their parents need to stay informed about current scholarship programs, as these financial aids can significantly ease the burden on families struggling to cover educational costs. Different types of scholarships are available instituted by different agencies/institutes for helping the students. Though a considerable number of scholarships are available instituted by either government or other institutes, level of awareness regarding scholarship among students are not known. In addition, it is also not known how far the scholarships are being availed by the students. Review of literature reflects that deprivation of study is a major reason of unawareness and knowledge regarding educational schemes. According to report of Ministry of minority affairs (2013) [4] more than 80.00 per cent rural students both -beneficiary and nonbeneficiaries -felt that there was lack of awareness about the pre-matric scholarship scheme and language of application form was a problem and it was lengthy too. Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, Government of India (2018) reported that total 82000 number of scholarships per year awarded in India for students of higher education in colleges and universities and also for professional courses. There are several scholarships for which students of agricultural universities are eligible including However, for availing such scholarships it depends largely on the level of awareness among the students about the scholarships Results of several studies from India and abroad reflect that students face different problems in obtaining scholarships. Studying the knowledge of the students about scholarship may help to realize the status in terms of availing scholarship and also may help planners and policy makers in making the procedures user friendly. This will in turn help the students in receiving scholarships smoothly. Studies on www.extensionjournal.com knowledge on scholarship were mostly found for school level and pre-metric level, not many studies have been found on awareness regarding scholarships among higher education students. Further study on keeping all these points in mind, the present study has been designed on the topic "Assessing the knowledge of students regarding post matric scholarship scheme"

Objective

Assessing the knowledge of students regarding post matric scholarship scheme

Material and Methods 1. Study Location:

The research was conducted in Haryana.

Institution Selection:

The study was carried out in two higher educational institutions-Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCS HAU), Hisar, affiliated with ICAR, and Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJU), Hisar, associated with the UGC.

Respondent Selection: Scheduled Caste and Backward

Class students, who were beneficiaries of the Post-Matric Scholarship, were chosen from eight colleges. A total of 30 students were randomly selected from each college, making the total number of respondents 240.

Result and Discussion

The data in The overall awareness of post-matric scholarships among respondents from both universities remained consistent in several key areas. All participants (100%) were aware that both male and female students were eligible to apply, and they understood that the scholarship process followed a hybrid model. A significant majority 91.25 per cent knew about the reimbursement covering the full duration of the degree, while 87.50 per cent were familiar with the refund provision for tuition and late fees. However, fewer respondents had knowledge of specific funding details, with only 10 per cent aware of the Centre and State government's 60:40 financial contribution, and just 4.16 per cent recognizing that the scholarship was provided by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The findings of this study align with Lama (2019) [2] , who observed that the majority of surveyed beneficiaries had awareness of the post-matric scholarship scheme, while only a negligible portion of students lacked familiarity with it. This consistency underscores the widespread knowledge of the scholarship among eligible students. [4] found that 75.50 per cent of respondents recognized the government's efforts in promoting equitable opportunities for all students. However, the eligibility criteria for scholarships revealed disparities in income limits set for different categories. These variations in financial thresholds highlight the government's tailored approach to addressing the unique needs of diverse student groups while striving to ensure fairness and inclusivity in scholarship distribution.

Conclusion

The findings of this study highlight the strong awareness of post-matric scholarships among students from both Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCS HAU) and Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUS&T). Most respondents demonstrated a thorough understanding of basic eligibility criteria, application processes, and reimbursement provisions. However, gaps in knowledge were evident regarding government funding structures, with only a small percentage aware of the Centre and State's financial contribution and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's role in scholarship distribution. While students largely understood the financial benefits of the scholarship, disparities in awareness about online application procedures and extended eligibility across academic levels suggest the need for improved informational outreach.

References

1. Mae DA, Kimberly DC, Bryan FJ, Eunice G. The impact of scholarship program to the grade 11 students of University of the East-Caloocan. 2016:23-24.
2. Lama M. An evaluation of the post matric scholarship scheme provided to the tribal students of Darjeeling municipality. Int J Adv Sci Res Manag. 2019;4(4):155161.
3. Pandey P, Mehta M, Mishra A. Scholarship: a tool for motivating students. Res Spectra. 2023;4(1):111-126.
4. Ministry of Minority Affairs. Report of evaluation and impact assessment of pre-matric scholarship scheme. New Delhi: Ministry of Minority Affairs; 2013.