Common Fund scholarships not meant for the rich – MP

Mr James Avedzi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu-North, has appealed to parents who can afford their wards education to stop scrambling for the MP’s Common Fund scholarships.

He said the fund is solely for brilliant students whose parents or guardians are incapable of financing their education.

The practice of competing with deprived students and using political influence and blackmail to obtain the scholarship were undermining the reason for its establishment, the MP note.

M r Avedzi gave the advice at the second John Gatsi Educational Competition Awards ceremony at Tadzewu.

He explained that the MP’s Common Fund Scholarship was meant to offer educational opportunities for the poor.

He said there are over 400 applications for scholarship before him and that since 2005, about 1000 students had been assisted under the scheme.

The Gatsi Educational Competition, instituted by Mr John Gatsi, a Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, was to stimulate stakeholders towards improving the standard of education in the area and encourage students to raise their performance.

Six students including Gloria Ahiadzro of the Bagome Basic School at Dzodze, who emerged the overall best student received certificates and books.

Mr Avedzi lauded Mr Gatsi for his initiative and pledged GH¢2,000 annually to support the competition.

He called for discipline in the schools to ensure standards and good examination results.

Mr Jasper Doe, a State Attorney, took the students through acts that could bring the youth in conflict with the law and said last year, 70 percent of prison inmates were young people.

Source: GNA