Accra Academy old students launch scholarship scheme
The old students of Accra Academy Senior High School in Accra have launched a scholarship scheme for underprivileged students in the school.
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Known as Vincent Birch Freeman Educational Scholarship Fund (VBFESF), the scheme was named after a former headmaster of the school, Mr Vincent Birch Freemen (1986-1996).
The initiative, under the auspices of the 1986-1996 old girls of the school, is aimed at sponsoring the education of two students each academic year.
The Accra Academy, though a boys’ school, used to admit girls for the Sixth Form programme, until the introduction of the senior high school system in 1991, that left the institution purely a boys’ school from 1996.
Commendation
Launching the scheme, a former Minister of Education, Mrs Betty Mould Idrissu, commended the ladies for remembering their alma mater.
“Governments have tried to support the education of its citizens, but sometimes because of its scarce resource, they are challenged, so I feel excited when old students come to the aid of their former schools to support the effort of government.”
“The seed money for the scholarship is GH¢50,000, and as a ‘Bleoobiye,’ with my other siblings ‘Bleoobihi,’ we will send our commitment of the fund to support the growth of the fund,” she said.
“Bleoobiye,” and “Bleoobihi,” which are local expressions in Ga, are slogans of the school, meaning calm ladies and gentlemen.
The fund
According to the president of the group, Ms Hilary Arko-Dadzie, the fund would be managed by its executive, while representatives of the Old Students Association (OSA) and the school’s administration would constitute the selection committee.
She said the scholarship was opened to second and third year students in the school who were eligible to apply, and added that it would take off next academic year.
“The idea is to express our appreciation to the fact that we had our Sixth Form training from the school, when we joined the boys. Moreover, it is to honour our father, for the strict supervision given us here. We are most grateful, Mr Freeman,” she expressed joyously.
Mr Freeman, who was overwhelmed by the initiative, was grateful to the group for the honour done him, and prayed that the scheme would be sustained.
He urged teachers to be selfless in their stewardship, adding, “Our reward is not always in heaven but here too.”
Together with his family, they donated GH¢10,500 to the scheme.
