The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has recently clarified misconceptions surrounding the discontinuation of its longstanding scholarship program and has introduced a new educational initiative.
The board made the decision to end the scholarship scheme due to the government’s implementation of the free senior high school education policy. In its place, COCOBOD has established the Cocoa Board Education Trust, which is aimed at providing essential primary school infrastructure in underserved cocoa-growing communities.
It was noted that some Ghanaians misunderstood the move as a failure or collapse of the scholarship scheme, which COCOBOD addressed in a statement. The scholarship scheme was initially created to support the education of cocoa farmers’ children, but with the introduction of free senior high school education, it was deemed unnecessary.
The funds that were allocated to the scholarship scheme will now be redirected to support education through the new COCOBOD Education Trust. This trust seeks to provide essential resources and infrastructure for basic schools in cocoa-growing communities, bridging the infrastructure gap between schools in deprived areas and urban centers.
Key resources such as classrooms, libraries, teachers’ bungalows, and other essential facilities will be provided by the trust to create a conducive learning environment for children. COCOBOD emphasized that the trust does not signify the termination of their educational support programs but represents a diversification of efforts to better address the evolving educational needs in rural communities.
The Board is calling on Ghanaians to support this transition to enhance the educational system and ensure that children in cocoa-growing communities have access to quality education. This initiative is a step towards improving educational outcomes and opportunities for the next generation of cocoa farmers.
