Dimapur, October 10 (MExN): With reference to the statement issued by NUSU (L) on the failure to disburse scholarship, the Department of Higher Education being the implementing agency of State Merit Scholarship has issued a clarification that the minimum percentage of marks required for the award as well as renewal is to maintain 70% marks at all levels both for 1st and 2nd year. This condition is clearly mentioned in application guidelines.
Director, Higher Education, Kuholi Chishi, in a press release stated that unlike other universities, Nagaland University has been following 7 Point Grading Scale System for the Undergraduates. As such, only those students securing Grade “A” or “O” can be considered to have secured a percentage of 70% or more. Hence, State Merit Scholarship was awarded to only those securing either “A” or “O” Grade. However, it was later found that this Grading System does not truly reflect the actual percentage secured by the students. Therefore, the Directorate of Higher Education has taken the extra responsibility to rework the calculation of the actual percentage secured by the students from the rejected list.
This manual process of recalculation from each form for the actual percentage secured was highly time consuming. After going through each application form, an additional 253 applicants were found to be qualifying for the State Merit Scholarship. Hence, the additional list of 253 students has been put up for Government’s approval. As and when the approval is received, the amount will be credited to the beneficiary’s account.
All these facts regarding the issue have been made known to the students’ representatives in the month of August. The Department is trying its best to see that deserving students are not victimized, and so the Department seeks the cooperation and understanding of all.
