Ganderbal, December 20: The Central University of Kashmir (CUK) has announced the start of the Student Aid Fund (SAF), which will waive tuition fees for students in a number of different categories. This is a big step toward promoting open education and helping students who are struggling.
This program is meant to show the university’s commitment to open learning by giving financial help and tuition fee waivers to students who deserve them and are having trouble paying their bills. Under the plan, up to 40% of students in each term will get their school fees waived.
About the plan, Vice-Chancellor Prof. A Ravinder Nath said, “The SAF shows that the Central University of Kashmir is committed to giving all of its students equal educational opportunities and helping them get past financial barriers.” He said the policy is in line with the University Grants Commission (UGC) policy for equality, which helps students from disadvantaged groups, those who are poor, and those who are struggling financially, while also supporting students who do well.
The SAF is a special fund that will help students, especially those from low-income families. It will be kept going by things like student donations, university grants, donations from alumni, and money made by activities led by the Dean of Students Welfare that focus on helping students.
The SAF gives three levels of school fee waivers each semester, depending on certain criteria. If a student meets the criteria for Category-I (need-based), they do not have to pay any tuition. This includes orphans, students from broken families, first-generation learners, people with disabilities, veterans, and athletes who have won medals at national and international sports events.
20% of students who are in Category II (need- and merit-based) do not have to pay any tuition. Students with critical diseases from either of their parents who make less than Rs 3,000,000 a year are included. The top 10% of students who did well on the entrance exams or the end-of-semester exams each semester are in Category III (merit-based). Students who want to get financial aid must meet certain requirements, such as filing forms, showing proof of their income, and saying they are not getting any other financial aid.
The move also aims to increase the number of underrepresented and unrepresented students enrolled in different university programs and to reach people who haven’t been reached before. This historic move by the university has been praised by everyone involved and is seen as one of the best things that CUKashmir has done for higher education.
