Resource Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme- NUGS

Ho, Nov. 29, - The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has appealed to government to revive the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS) to ease pressure on hundreds of beneficiaries.

    

Mr Divine Kporha, Volta Regional President of the Union, in a press release made available to the Ghana News Agency said the scholarship collapsed at the beginning of the 2014/2015 academic year when government stopped funding the programme.

He said the scholarship scheme was initiated in 2009 following a Cabinet approval, to help some 40,000 brilliant but needy students through secondary and tertiary education with two per cent of funds allocation from the GETfund.

    

Mr Kporha said beneficiaries had an annual disbursement of a maximum of GH₵600.00, and expressed worry that many risked dropping out of school due to the downward stride of the initiative.

    

He said the Scholarship’s Secretariat had cited the unavailability of funds with most beneficiaries who owed their respective educational institutions being threatened with withdrawals.

     

Mr Kporha therefore appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to revive the scheme to promote Science education in the country.

    

“We understand the efforts government is making to promote education in this country with limited resources. However, this should not affect the academic, personal and professional development of the Ghanaian student so heavily.

    

“We are at this point appealing to His Excellency the President, sector Ministers, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to listen to us and initiate a swift action to help relieve the trauma of these students,” he said.

GNA