By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bolgatanga, Oct. 3, GNA – Two hundred vulnerable young people has been enrolled in the first recruitment exercise of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE)/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Scholarship Programme in Ghana.
The beneficiaries, who fall within the ages of 15 and 25 years, have gained admission to pursue diploma programmes for a maximum of three years in some Technical Universities across the country in the 2024/2025 academic year.
Out of the 200, 15 are persons with disability who have been offered opportunities to study in the fields of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Mr Richard Amoani, the National Coordinator of FAWE-Ghana, who disclosed this at a stakeholder engagement in Bolgatanga, said the initiative was designed to remove financial barriers and inequality that often prevent vulnerable young men and women from accessing higher education.
The programme, being implemented in 10 African countries including Ghana, is a continuation of Phase I, which benefited more than 2,000 young people in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda over the past decade.
In Ghana, the Programme is being implemented in seven regions namely Oti, Volta, Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper East and Upper West Region and it is expected to benefit 1,100 young people by the end of 2030.
The Programme would recruit 600 students in three arrangements of 200 per each recruitment to pursue various TVET and STEM programmes in the partnered technical universities such as Ho Technical University, Bolgatanga Technical University, Takoradi Technical University, Cape Coast Technical University, AAMUSTED, Dr Hilla Liman Technical University and Tamale Technical University.
Additionally, the programme would recruit 500 young people to undertake bridging programme (students who do not have the required WASSCE passes for high education) for a period of six months to one year before gaining admission to the universities to undertake their desired programmes.
Mr Amoani explained that apart from the scholarships, beneficiaries would also undergo training in leadership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and start-up development under an External Orientation Model of the Programme to prepare them for future opportunities.
He said the scholarship programme was not only giving hope to brilliant but needy students but also helping to build the next generation of leaders and innovators.
The stakeholder engagement which brought together District Girls’ Education Officers and other relevant individuals was part of the to deliberate and outline strategies for effective implementation of the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Programme in the Upper East Region.
Following the engagement, the District Girls’ Education Officers, together with other selected individuals, will be deployed as Focal Point Persons to spearhead sensitisation activities and radio programmes under the initiative to ensure its successes.
The stakeholders will also help to identify qualified students and their families for the scholarship programme and help the programme to reach those in need.
Mr Emmanuel Gazzara, Field Officer, FAWE-Ghana, reiterated commitment to ensuring that marginalised groups, particularly women and persons with disability, were not left behind in accessing tertiary education.
He urged the District Girls’ Education Officers and other stakeholders to support the initiative to ensure that the programme benefitted the right persons and contribute to transform society and bridge inequality.
Madam Rita Abamah, the Upper East Regional Girls’ Education Officer, commended the FAWE-Ghana and Mastercard Foundation for the initiative, stressing that poverty had been major challenge compelling girls to engage in risky sexual behaviours leading to teenage pregnancy, child marriage and school dropouts.
She pledged on behalf of the District Officers to intensify campaign and ensure that the vulnerable young people especially the girls benefitted for the programme to empower them.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali /Benjamin Mensah