New Delhi: Students of Indian Higher Secondary and CBSE studying in 11th grade or equivalent in South Asian countries--Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, now have an opportunity to win IGNOU-UNESCO accredited merit certificates, prizes and awards", announced Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Vice Chancellor, Professor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai.

IGNOU and the South Asia Regional Office of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), New Delhi, are organizing a Science Olympiad for Science students currently enrolled in 11th Standard/Class or equivalent in other SAARC countries.

"All students who have scored a minimum of 70% average in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology in the terminal examination of 10th Standard/Class or equivalent are eligible to participate," announced Dr. P.T. Manoharan, IGNOU's 'Sir CV Raman Chair' professor.

If a prospective participant has obtained a minimum of 70% average in the science subjects of their 10th standard/class examination, he or she can register in a proforma found in the websites of IGNOU and UNESCO.

School principals/authorities are requested to promote the participation of all bright students and forward the applications from their respective schools along with a demand draft/ credit card authorization for INR 50/-.

Successful participants will receive certificates of merit, medals, cash prizes and awards. Top 1000 participants will be given IGNOU-UNESCO accredited merit certificates.

About 30-40 meritorious participants from the SAARC countries will be invited to IGNOU , New Delhi to take the second test and to receive the awards in person in a special award ceremony.