Education Stipend Programme for the Student with Disabilities

The Department of Social Services has started its journey to address challenges of 21^st century, specially issues related to social development. The Department firmly believes that sustainable human resource development depends on education. But still now student with disabilities are not yet able to enjoy equal facilities in educational institution. Beside, poverty also hinders them from getting education. To encourage the children with disabilities to enroll themselves in the educational institution, the Government has introduced stipend programme for the student with disabilities.The responsibility has given to DSS to implement this programme.

Objectives of the Stipend Programme:

The main objectives of this programme is to ensure the commitment of the Constitution, National Disability related Policy, Bangladesh Protabandhi Kalayan Act-2001 and UN Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities. Through this programme attempt has been taken to mainstreaming Student with Disabilities. Still now the rate of dropout is much more among the Student with Disabilities. They cannot afford education cost because most of them come from poor family. So through this programme new avenue is created for higher education.

Educational Institution under the jurisdiction of Stipend Programme for the Student with Disabilities :

(i) The educational Institution run by the Department of Social Services.

(ii) The educational Institution financed by the Jatioy Protibondhi Foundation

(iii) Government Primary School

(iv) Non-Government Registered Primary School.

(v) Government and Non-government High School.

(vi) Government and Non-government College.

(vii) Government affiliated Aftedhai, Dhakhil, Alim, Fazil, Kamil Madrasha.

(viii) The educational Institution run by the NGO and financially supported by the Government.

(ix) The Educational Institution for the Student with Disabilities run by the NGO/ Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies.

(x) Government affiliated, Vocational Institution.

(xi) Public University and other Educational Institution affiliated by the Government.

Eligibility for getting the Stipend:

(i) Candidate must be the citizen of Bangladesh.

(ii) Must be the age of 5 years and above.

(iii) Must be the handicapped in accordance with the article 3 (1) of Bangladesh Protibondhi Kalayan Ain-2001.

(iv) Must be the Student with Disabilities of the educational Institution stated in Serial No. 3

(v) Percentage of attendance must be 50%

(vi) Must attend the Annul Examination.

(vii) Must have Registration Certificate issued by District Social Services Office.

 Rate of Stipend (Financial year 2020-21):

Implementing Agency:

The Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare has been Implementing this programme through some committee. Committees are National Steering Committee, District Steering Committee, Upazilla Programme Implementing/ Municipal Programme Implementing Committee. The mobile financial account (bKash) is then opened in the name of the legitimate guardian by informing the head of the educational institution or the guardian of the selected students with disabilities and the stipend money is sent directly to the concerned mobile in G2P method.

 Upazila wise statistics:

Sr. No.

Number of beneficiary students till 2020-21 financial year

Sherpur Sadar Upazila

Nakla Upazila

Nalitabari Upazila

Jhenaigati Upazila

Sreebordi Upazila

Sherpur Municipality

In total