Three hundred Senior High School entrants in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region, have received a support package worth GHS300,000 from the Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Affo-Toffey.
The 300 beneficiaries including 176 girls and 124 boys each received a mattress, chop-box, trunk, and books from the Jomoro MP’s Scholarship for New SHS Entrants scheme.
Speaking to Citi News during the launch of the scheme at Half-Assini, Dorcas Affo-Toffey said the gesture follows the numerous requests she receives annually for support from parents of SHS entrants despite the Free SHS policy.
“Last year, I had a lot of students that were going to the SHS, and they needed help, and so I thought it wise that since that was the problem across Jomoro, I should make it as a program where I can help most of the needy but brilliant students. So that is what motivated me because I’m a mother and education is something that is very important to me. So when I saw that, this is the area where most people needed help, I decided to help my constituency. I’m glad that we have been able to launch the program for 300 SHS entrants“, she said.
Dorcas Affo-Toffey also said her support scheme is going to run every year especially to assist girls since the problem comes up every year.
“I will encourage every one of them to take their studies very seriously to stay in school because they are our future leaders. If we are not there, they will take up the mantle after us and I, as a Member of Parliament will do my best to support them.”
Explaining why more than half of the 300 beneficiaries selected were girls, the Jomoro MP said all the 176 girls were picked on merit. She said it is also her focus to support female education.
She said the criteria for qualification was aggregate 6-15, but was extended to aggregate 17 for the girls to give more women a chance.
Other Members of Parliament from Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, New Edubiase, Abdul-Salam Adams, Wa Central, Rashid Pelpuo and Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armarh Kofi-Buah, commended Dorcas Affo-Toffey’s huge investment in the youth of Jomoro, and encouraged the beneficiary SHS students to maximize the support to better their future.
Source: citinewsroom.com