Am I entitled to deduct fees for my efforts in searching for individuals, my personal expenses incurred, and a reward for individuals who attended the exam, from the amount allocated for the literacy project, or am I not entitled to dispose of this amount at all?

If you have exerted your utmost effort and found no one willing to learn, and then resorted to registering learners, there is no blame upon you. As for the reward, you are not entitled to it because you did not teach the four successful students anything. Your diligence in searching is your duty, and the reward is for teaching. You must dispose of this money by returning it to the university if possible, or giving it to the poor and needy, or spending it on the general welfare of Muslims. There is no harm in giving some money to those who attended the exam if they are poor.