135 students receives scholarships worth GH¢ 40, 640, 00

The National Partnership for Children’s Trust in collaboration with its partners has awarded scholarship to 135 students worth GH¢ 40, 640, 00 for the 2012/2013 academic year in Accra.

The beneficiaries ranged from the Junior and Senior High School (SHS) and University.

Mrs Judith Sawyer, Vice-Chair, Board of Trustees of the trust, who spoke at the awards ceremony, said the body seeks to enhance the welfare of children in Ghana.

She said the students were chosen through consultation with school heads in disadvantaged public schools using a means of assessment.

“The awards cover such things including PTA (Parent Teacher Association) levies, examinations fees, exercise and textbooks, school uniforms, shoes and boarding fees for SHS students,” she noted.

She said the trust has as its core partners, Ecobank and HFC Bank, with individual donors both in Ghana and abroad.

She noted that, to date the trust has awarded more than 200 scholarships amounting to about 100,000 dollars.

Mrs Sawyer said those of their beneficiaries who performed well enough to enter the SHS were given support to complete their education.

“Grants to students ranged from GH¢150 per annum for those in the JHS to GH¢ 350 per annum for day SHS students and GH¢450 for boarders,” she added.

She said this year, the trust had 15 beneficiary schools in Greater Accra focusing on Accra Metro, Ga West and Dangme West.

She said to improve on the teaching and reading in public basic schools, the trust has re-started its reading clinic programme for public school teachers.

She urged the beneficiaries to work hard and concentrate on their studies, saying “if you do not meet the mark we will have to drop you from the programme and replace you with someone else.”

She said parents must be willing to sacrifice for their children and give them the necessary encouragement support to succeed at school.

Mr. Asare Akuffo, Managing Director of HFC Bank, said management of the financial entity gets encouraged to support students looking at their performance.

He said the bank is commitment to continue to support brilliant but needy students to strive for excellence.

The beneficiaries were registered on the HFC’s Enidaso account where the fund allocated to them would be deposited.

The account was aimed at inculcating the habit of savings into the youth by helping them save parts of their pocket money or money gifts to cater for their basic needs and educational expenses as well as other expectations.

Mr. John Daku, a level 100 student of the University of Ghana, who is also a beneficiary expressed gratitude to managers of the fund for giving him and his fellow beneficiaries the opportunity to get quality education and contribute to the development of the country.

Ms Mavis Adabrah was given the Lawrence Addo special prize for her performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination.