General News of 2013-03-05

SHS students to benefit from scholarship scheme

Ten Thousand Students from senior high schools (SHS) in the country, will from next academic year benefit from Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS).

The scheme, which is for brilliant needy students, is meant to generate enthusiasm in the study of science, mathematics and technology, especially in the second cycle institutions.

The Minister of State at the Presidency, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, who announced this at the Speech and Prize Giving Day Ceremony of the Accra Girls SHS in Accra, said the increase i the number of beneficiaries from 5,000 to 10,000 was in line with the country’s socio – economic advancement.

Recalling President John Mahama’s address to the UN General Assembly last year, he said the President emphasised his commitment to youth development as a positive step for the country’s accelerated development.

Touching on some of the policies to enhance quality education, he said, beside the distribution of laptops to students,the government planned to modernise and increase the number of colleges of education with special emphasis on deprived areas and communities.

“ There are plans to also implement a distance education programme for teachers with 10 decentralised campuses across the country, taking full advantage of contemporary information and communication technology platforms that will allow the access to curriculum resources, electronically, by these students and staff in these colleges,” Dr Armed said.

He, therefore, urged female students to take advantage of the programme and apply for the MASTESS scholarship and added that “ you should spend your time judiciously to gather facts and figures to make you better leaders of our dear nation”.

In her keynote address entitled “ Enhancing quality education- the role of Stakeholders”, the Chief Executive Officer of L’aine Service Limited, Mrs Helen Hagan said it took both the participation of students and parents to achieve quality education.

According to her, it was the duty of every parent to assist their children in identifying their talents and God-given abilities, since it was those soft skills that guaranteed their job placement after school.

“Parents should therefore encourage volunteering, as well as internship during secondary school holiday periods. Encourage the youth to participate in school activities that promote clear communication, such as a debate team,” Mrs Hagan said.

She urged the students to make their stay in school relevant by taking advantage of every time to enhance their knowledge base.

Presenting the school’s report, the Headmistress of Accra Girls SHS, Mrs Veronica Akapame, said although the school encountered numerous challenges, citing the lack of a sporting field and inadequate residential accommodation for both staff and students as the major problems, the students recorded 100 per cent score in their exams.

She, however, appealed to the stakeholders to assist the school to complete its two-storey dormitory block which started in 2007, which had not be completed due to lack of funds.

A form two student, Naa Oboshie Anang, emerged the over-all best student and was given a laptop and some educational materials.