Dhaka: The government has decided to provide stipend to 17.03 lakh poor students at the higher secondary level aimed at averting drop-outs as well as stimulating completion of education, especially that of the girl students.

Among the total students studying at the secondary level across the country, 40 percent female students and 10 percent male students will be given the stipend under "Higher Secondary Stipend Project".

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved the stipend project involving Taka 521 crore.

ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting held at the NEC conference room in city's Sher-e-Banglanagar.

After the meeting, Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal said a total of six development projects including the higher secondary stipend project were approved with the outlay of Taka 1,347 crore to be entirely borne by the government.

One of the projects involving Tk 558 crore was approved to convert selected private schools into model schools situated in 315 Upazila headquarters, where no government school is available.