IGNOU with the help of Bachelor Preparatory Program (BPP) will provide free higher education to transgenders.

The transgender community of India will now be able to avail the benefit of higher education. IGNOU has instructed all centers to give free admissions to transgenders. Until now, IGNOU has been giving free education to SC, ST, prisoners and weavers.

The transgender community has been deprived of education since long. Feelings of hesitation and social discrimination prevented the transgenders from entering schools. Since primary level of education is not achieved, a higher level of education is beyond their imagination. IGNOU’s Assistant Regional Director Kamlesh Meena said that there was a negligible count of transgenders applying in the center for education. They would resort to other means like applying through someone else.

BPP will henceforth assist in connecting transgenders with higher education. Under this programme, all those transgenders who couldn’t attain education at school level but are literate and have the desire to study can apply for the six-monthly BPP course of IGNOU. After the course, they will be required to clear an exam for the optional subjects. Then the candidate can take admission in Bachelor’s program. The candidate needs to be 18 years of age or above for entrance in this programme.