good luck to the women! way to go! a nice gesture indeed and good to see some familar names. i think one should not really pit primary education against higher. it's like comparing basic needs with luxury. i think every state is responsible to cater the basic needs of its citizens --primary education being one of them. there should not be any undue incentive behind that. secondly, having more literate citizens although don't sound much fascinating in the beginning than having few cream professionals, the former always have a long term postive impact as it creates oppportunities for poor to stand on their own, albeit by their own standard, and creates opportunities in the grass root level (villages) of our society. IMHO, a seamlessly literate society is better off. it does not make sense to paint a house, if its bricks are not strong enough to hold the building together. profit-oriented private organizations/institutions can/may think of helping bright students and fund their higher education. a state does not hold the liability for that. however, if it can, that would be great. LooTe