Bengaluru: The Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) plans to give laptops to students belonging to the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe communities, who top the II Pre-university examination in their respective districts.

The laptops will be given to six students from each district which include SC, ST students in arts, commerce and science streams. In the 2016 II PU exam, the pass percentage of SC, ST students was 44.79% and 46.88% respectively. This was lower than the overall pass percentage of 57.2%. While district toppers in the SSLC exam have been getting computers or laptops for several years now, this is the first time II PU students will be given laptops.

C. Shikha, Director of DPUE, said it is an attempt to encourage SC, ST students to perform well in their exam and a push for them to pursue higher education. To help realise this, the department had also conducted special coaching for 72,000 students in this category, who were appearing for the II PU exam during the Dasara holidays. “Nearly 40% of the total 1.8 lakh students of government PU colleges are students belonging to the SC and ST community,” she said.