The Management of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has explained that its traditional scholarship scheme was cancelled due to the introduction of the Free Senior High School Policy.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 22, clarifying the withdrawal of the scheme, COCOBOD, however, noted that its new board, under the chairmanship of Peter Mac Manu, has set up the COCOBOD Education Trust to provide other education-related support to basic schools in cocoa-growing communities.
The statement explained that the previous scholarship scheme was primarily to support students in senior secondary schools but had become redundant owing to the similar support currently offered by the FSHS policy.
“The Cocoa Scholarship Scheme was established to support wards of cocoa farmers to pursue secondary education. However, with the introduction of the free senior high school policy, this scheme is no longer necessary. The COCOBOD Education Trust is a new initiative that will utilise the funds allocated to the scholarship scheme to support education in other ways.”
Despite concerns about the old scheme’s removal, COCOBOD assured that the new education trust will diversify educational support programmes, providing essential facilities like classrooms, libraries, and teacher bungalows, and ensuring a conducive learning environment for children.
“We assure the public that our commitment to supporting education in Ghana remains unwavering. The COCOBOD Education Trust is a new chapter in our efforts to support the education of wards of cocoa farmers, and we are confident that it will make a positive impact in the lives of many,” the statement said.
“The COCOBOD Education Trust is therefore not a termination of the Board’s educational support programmes, but to diversify to better serve evolving educational needs in rural communities, including the provision of essential facilities such as classrooms, libraries, teacher bungalows, among others, and ensuring a conducive learning environment for children,” it added.
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