Trump signs Malala education act into law
The act is called "Malala Yousufazai Scholarship Act"
US President Donald Trump in his last week in the White House has signed an act that would award at least 50% scholarship to Pakistani women wishing to complete higher education in the US.
The act is called "Malala Yousufazai Scholarship Act," reports The Dawn.
US Congress passed the proposed law earlier this month and sent it to the White House for the president to sign.
"On 13 January, the President signed into law the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act, which directs the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to award at least 50% of Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Programme scholarships to Pakistani women," said a statement issued by the White House.
The bill was first passed by the House of Representatives in March 2020 and then by the US Senate by a voice vote on 1 January.
From 2020 to 2022, Pakistani women would be eligible for the scholarship.
The scholarships will be available across a range of academic disciplines and in accordance with existing eligibility criteria.
The bill also requires USAID to consult with and leverage investments by the Pakistani private sector and Pakistani diaspora in the United States to improve and expand access to education programmes in Pakistan.
