110 Basic students in Akropong receive Scholarship

Akropong (E/R), Sept. 19, GNA-United Way Ghana (UWG), a not-for-profit organization, on Friday donated educational materials worth 11,000 Ghana Cedis to five basic schools at Akropong in the Akwapim North district of the Eastern Region.

The items which include uniforms, shoes, school bags, satchels, backpacks and exercise books were shared among 110 primary and Junior High School (JHS) pupils under a three-year old scholarship scheme being funded by U.S based couple Richard and Laurie Riedman through United Way International (UWI), an International Organisation. UWG was linked to more than 4,500 United Way and Community organizations in 47 countries through its affiliation to UWI. The beneficiary schools were Okuapeman District Assembly (DA) primary and JHS, Methodist primary and JHS, Akropong DA primary, Akropong Salem JHS and Akropong Anglican primary. Speaking to GNA, Miss Karen Shormeh Sai, Executive Director of UWG said the scholarship Programme was meant to provide the fundamental requirements needed to keep a child in school as well as caring for brilliant but needy students.

"Ghana's "education for all" policy has made primary education more accessible to majority of children but there are still pockets of extreme poverty where parents cannot afford the supplemental necessities required to send their children to school. Many of these children, although brilliant are having to drop out of school," she said. Miss Sai said beneficiaries were selected, based on merit and need and was each identified by teachers and schoolmates as stellar performers.

"The first group of 39 beneficiary students ranged in age from 6 to 17 years and over 20 of them have graduated from JHS. UWG interviews by teachers, headmasters and the students themselves to verify their financial needs," she said.

Miss Sai said it was the hope of UWG to increase the number of students and the extent of support but was limited by funding. "Each child requires support of approximately 100 dollars a year and as the funding base for the support grows, UWG anticipates reaching into other areas of Ghana to support other brilliant but needy students at the primary education level," she said. Miss Sai urged parents and teachers to support the students to enable them to excel in school.

Mr. Seth Kwame Odame, Assistant Director in-Charge of Finance and Administration at the Akuapim North District Directorate of Ghana Education Service(GES) said since the inception of the schorlarhip in Akropong, enrollment in schools had improved whiles drop-out rates have been reduced drastically.

Mr. Odame appealed to UWG to provide similar assistance to students in other town and villages outside Akropong. Mr. Sylvester Yaw Dabley, Headmaster of Okuapeman DA Primary said the lack of adequate electricity supply and a canteen were some of the problems facing the school.