Unnecessary scholarships

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has increased the number of scholarships under the Punjab Honahar Merit Scholarship Programme from 4,000 to 25,000. As far as I can tell, there is no needs-based justification for such a vast scholarship programme. A few scholarships to students attaining first, second or third position in exams are sufficient as a prize. Students doing well in studies most probably belong to well-to-do families.

Financial assistance is really needed by those who are left behind because they cannot move to big cities to attend good schools a. Still better, the money spent on such schemes can be used for smaller scholarships for primary school students, particularly girls and students from rural areas.

Abdul Majeed

Islamabad