Financial constraint has emerged as one of the significant hindrances to many educational opportunities in local areas in Ghana. 

In the Oforikrom municipality, families and many school going age children struggle to afford the cost of education and some risk dropping out. 

To cushion the situation, Stand Together Educational Foundation and Scholarships has granted educational support to 11 brilliant and needy students in the area.

Ghana’s 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) indicates over 1.2 million children of school-going age – 4 to 17 years – are not attending school. 

Over 900,000 children out of the number have never attended school.

Financial resource constraints usually lead to limited access to quality schools, and academic material. 

To help improve the situation, the Stand Together Educational Foundation and Scholarships (STEFSS) has committed to supporting underprivileged children in the community to access education.

The eleven (11) beneficiaries will access full scholarship, book supply, accommodation and feeding. 

Diaspora relations officer, Yaw Owusu Apau, representing the founder of the foundation, Nana Fosuhene Apenten Boakye Yiadom, indicates the Foundation aims to secure a better future for poverty-torn children in Oforikrom.

“Our dream is to help brilliant and needy students. Currently, we are awarding two university students and nine basic school pupils a full scholarship. We are helping in our small way to make sure that we boost education in Oforikrom municipality. 

“Education is the bedrock of any country and without it, we would not be living a better life. We aim to help people who have issues and are going through hardships. We hope that our support will help them to have a bright future,” he said.

Assemblymember of the Oforikrom West Electoral Area, Ofori Kyerekyera, admonished parents to monitor their wards to ensure fruitful education.

“What I want to tell beneficiaries is that they should also learn very hard. They should take up the responsibility to learn and come out successful. If they don't, it will discourage people who want to help. Parents should take very good care of their wards. They should see to their day-to-day activities, what they do daily.

“Parents should monitor them, so at the end of the day, they will come out with flying colors, which will help the community, it will help the nation, and it will help their family as well,” he said.

Beneficiary, Essandor Bismark, said “I applied for a Stand Together Educational Scholarship. They granted me this opportunity to take care of myself through my university from level 100 to level 400.

“I believe it will help me work extra harder to help them achieve their aim. I give thanks to them. May God bless them and make His face shine upon them”.