Our Correspondent | EMN
Kohima, August 5
TWO girl students of the North East region, including a Naga girl have been selected to study in different institutes in the US free of cost.
Veipune Sarah and Zenith Lairikyengbam, both Baccalaureate students of Darwin School of Business, one of Guwahati’s premier management institutes have been selected under the Community College Initiative Program of the US Government. They are amongst the 8 students selected this year from the entire country.Their entire stay, fooding, lodging, travel and education would be sponsored by the US Government.
Beside, they would also be earning a stipend of 700 USD every month during their one year course.
Interacting with media persons at Kohima Press Club here today, Sarah, who cleared here 10+2 from JNV Dzuketsa under Phek district, said she was fortunate to have joined Darwin School of Management, Guwahati as the institute gave her the knowledge of such scholarships.
She explained her entire journey of selection. She still is in disbelief that with such a humble family background she too could make it to the final cut and be eligible for the 100% scholarship.
Sarah inspired other students of the state too to take such international tests and not be scared or feel inferior to others.
“If I can make it, my other fellow brothers and sisters can make it to the final cut too,” she said.
Sarah has been selected to join the prestigious Whatcom Community College in Washington. She is scheduled to depart on August 10 while Lairikyengbam has already joined her Miami Dade College in Florida.
Dean-Academics of Darwin School of Management, Dr TK Bharali said “most of the students in this part of the country are unaware of the various scholarships/grants that are available for higher studies in India and especially in abroad.
“Children of the political and bureaucratic class of rest of India, most of whom do not need assistance, avail such opportunities and our pupils are just left uninformed,” he said, adding that the institute wishes to take this message to the masses that higher education is now not only a privilege of the powerful and the rich.
Coordinator of the Darwin School of Management for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, Jasmine supplemented stating that community colleges are the gateway to higher education in the US for a growing number of students.
“They are largest and fastest growing sector of higher education in America,” she said adding that these colleges offer various types of courses, which are mostly job-oriented. Depending on the courses, students are awarded associate degrees or certificates.
“Students who aim to study abroad but do not have much money to fund their education can explore the numerous scholarships that the governments of various countries offer,” she added.
