The Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Armah Blay Nyameke, has set up a fund, –Sekondi Educational Fund –to support brilliant but financially disadvantaged students in the constituency.
The initiative, the first of its kind since the creation of the Sekondi constituency, is aimed at addressing the rising rate of school dropouts by easing the financial burden on parents.
The fund is expected to offer scholarships and other forms of assistance to help keep children in school.
Recent data from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Education Directorate reveals a worrying trend—Sekondi ranks as the second highest community in terms of truancy and school dropouts, with Kojokrom topping the list.
The soaring rate of school dropouts in Sekondi has been largely blamed on crushing poverty, with many children tragically forced to trade classrooms for streets, where they hawk under the scorching sun to survive.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the launch with themed “Investing in our future on mind at a time”, Lawyer Armah emphasized the need to secure a future for every child, regardless of their socio-economic background.
He shared personal memories of childhood friends who had to abandon their education due to financial constraints, a painful reality that inspired him to establish the fund.
“This initiative is a testament to our unwavering commitment to education. It is not politically driven. Every deserving child in Sekondi, regardless of background or political affiliation, will have access to this fund,” the MP stressed.
He announced that a non-partisan committee will be formed to manage applications from the public, ensuring transparency and fairness in disbursing the support.
The initiative has been widely lauded by community leaders.
Peter Boampong, Presiding Member and Assembly Member for Adiembra, described the fund as a “life saver”, highlighting the constant appeals from parents to assembly members for school fees support at the start of every academic term.
“This fund couldn’t have come at a better time. It brings real hope to struggling families and reduces the pressure on us. As an Assembly member l can say that with this fund half of our burdens have been taken away,” Mr. Boampong said.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the initiative, Metropolitan Chief Executive, Fredrick Faidoo, proposed that a portion of the MP’s Common Fund be dedicated to the educational fund.
He further encouraged other Members of Parliament within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis to replicate the initiative in their respective constituencies, noting that a collective effort is crucial to addressing the broader issue of school dropouts across the region.
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