The APGA candidate for Aba central state constituency for 2023 general election has released the steps he will take if elected in his scholarship scheme to give back the people of Aba Central what is rightfully theirs in education, especially the vulnerable citizens. He outlined steps to take in execution of the scholarship program such as funding, Management, execution, public announcement through radio and other communication platform, Using financial need, setting up Examination and academic achievement in grade points and average. He stressed that through financial need strategy children who has the desire to go to school but could not due do to family background will have the opportunity to do so. In addition, he stressed that those in school already be it tertiary, primary or secondary that are having financial challenges in tuition fee, accommodation and feeding will be offset through financial need category of the scholarship scheme. According to him it is the time to change governance narrative in Aba central, the old way that does not benefits the people should be cut off.
His statement reads in part:
As we all know that education is the basic program that the government should provide for their people as mentioned in the United Nations development goals both MDG and SDG programs.
To this end, in my manifesto, I have sighted it as part of my major goal of what I will do all through my tenure as a legislator.
In my own way of giving back to my constituency in Aba central, I will set up an educational scholarship fund to give back to my people who may not have the opportunity to go to school or further their education upto university level.
In doing this, I have come to the terms that for this to work out well within the period of my four years tenure, there are number of things to consider when planning for such scholarship scheme which include how to funding, Management and execution for better result.
FUNDING
This program shall be funded fully from part of my constituency allowance and my Non governmental organization (NGO). it is purely an act of changing the old fashion of representatives.
MANAGEMENT
The scholarship scheme shall consist of 6 man committee which shall be selected from the local Government area that make up Aba central constituency. This is to ensure that each local Government benefits from the program.
EXECUTION
Steps that we have set aside to follow in order to execute this plan are
1. PURPOSE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP à
a. To help some parents who cannot afford to send their children to school.
b. To Provide financial aid to students studying but finds it difficult in paying for their tuition fees.
c. To identify students who want to study a particular professional course Such as medicine, nursing, Information technology, Mechanical engineering, Electrical engineering and so on but due to the high cost of the program could not do so and assist them.
d. Helping students who have financial or personal hardships to overcome why studying like, (hostel rent)
e. Awarding schoolarship to students who is studying already, who excel in a sports competition or academic field with excellent grade, or an essay competition.
2 SCHOLARSHIP TIME FRAME.
There will be a lot of planning but we will make sure that we do it every year in August against the next section of academic year because we will need to think ahead of time in order to meet up.
Things to consider during the timeframe planning includes
a. Advertising
b. Applicant screening
c. Scholarship examination
d. Award to successful applicant.
3. SCHOLARSHIP DURATION
The scholarship duration shall range from full program to section and semester. This depend on category of the scholarship an applicant applied for.
4, SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CRITERIAam
We know that When you advertise a scholarship, you are likely to have many applicants to apply.
But in this case, We will want to choose criteria that will help us select the most deserving applicants that will qualify for the award.
Every year will determine the criteria that we will use for selection that year and it will vary based on the purpose of the scholarship.
Few mentioned below will be part of the basics
Financial need
Academic achievement in grade points and average
In conclusion, the general aim of this education and scholarship scheme is to promote our education system in Abia state and Nigeria at large to be able to meet up the United Nations education standard to our people in ABA central. We must change the narrative
