Chennai- Parents of students appearing for the Tamil Nadu Rural Students Talent Search (TRUST) exam are demanding an increase in the scholarship amount, citing it as insufficient motivation for students. The exam, aimed at encouraging rural students to complete their schooling, currently provides a scholarship of Rs 1,000 per year for four years.

This demand comes as the 2023 TRUST exam, originally scheduled for December 14, was postponed to February 1 due to heavy rainfall across several districts. The exam, conducted by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examination (DGE), is open to students in Classes 9 to 12 from government-recognized rural schools whose parents earn less than Rs one lakh annually.

Parents argue that the meager scholarship amount of Rs 1,000 per year is not a significant incentive for students to put in the effort required for the exam. "Without proper incentives, students are not motivated to study for the exam. Rs1,000 per year hardly qualifies as a scholarship,” stated Rajarathinam, the father of a Class 9 student. M.K. Ushakumari from Erode echoed these sentiments, stating, "Students lack the enthusiasm to write the exam because the annual scholarship of Rs 1,000 is too small."

Teachers echo these concerns, highlighting the lack of adequate preparation resources and training for the exam. Palaniappan Rajagopal, a mathematics teacher from a government school in Nagercoil, pointed out that the exam's math section delves into complex concepts that are not introduced until Class 8. Palaniappan Rajagopal, a government school mathematics teacher from Nagercoil, asserts that "While algebra is introduced in Class 8, the exam asks more complex questions. Relying solely on outdated question papers is insufficient."

Adding to the concerns, Tamil-medium students only have access to outdated PDF reference materials, while English-medium students lack any such support. Low-income students often struggle to access smartphones and the Internet for exam preparation.

Stakeholders are urging the government to increase the budget allocation for student scholarships and provide modern study materials, updated syllabi, and special training sessions to better prepare students for the exam.

The TRUST exam, introduced in 1991, is a collaborative effort between the government, the School Education Department, and Rural Development. The exam covers subjects like mathematics, social studies, mental ability, and science, focusing on application-based questions to assess reasoning and comprehension skills.

During the 2023-24 academic year, 4,130 students received scholarships after clearing the exam. However, concerns have been raised about fewer students scoring above 50 out of 100 compared to the previous year.

While the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship (NMMS) offers a higher monthly scholarship amount of Rs 1,000 to students from families earning less than Rs 3.5 lakh annually, experts argue that the TRUST program provides more tailored opportunities specifically for rural students in Tamil Nadu.