The Keyara’s Gift Incorporated, in collaboration with the Prison Fellowship Liberia, has awarded scholarships to over 150 students in Montserrado, Grand Bassa and Bong counties.
The Country Director of the fellowship, Reverend Francis Kollie, disclosed that the scholarships will cover insurance, medication and the provision of books and housing for some of the beneficiaries, and will be worth about US$85,000 for this academic year.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Reverend Kollie called on the government to standardize the payment of tuition in public and private schools in the country.
He expressed regret that thousands of children will not be able to attend school this year because of the increment in tuition in government and private schools and, as a result, parents cannot afford to pay such fees in the wake of the prevailing economic situation.
The reverend also went the extra mile when he offered scholarship to a student who was heard complaining on the Okay FM in Monrovia that she ricks being dropped out of school because of the death of her parents.
“We do not want some individuals to demand sex from these females as a pre-condition for assisting them to attend school,” he said. “But by the grace of God, we will be paying the tuition of this girl until she achieves her academic endeavor up to high school level, as long as God continues to assist us.”
The Prison Fellowship Liberia Country Director warned students against peer pressure by avoiding drugs and premature sex because they risk being dropped from the Keyara’s Gift scholarship program.
According to Reverend Kollie, the scholarships could not cover more students because of the increase in tuition and fees in private and public schools.
He expressed the disappointment in proprietors of private schools because of their deliberate intension to increase tuition and fees, in the wake of the economic difficulty prevailing in the country.
Reverend Kollie also appealed to the beneficiaries to take advantage of the scholarships, and thanked God for Keyara’s Gift Incorporated for sponsoring the program for more than eight years now.
The Prison Fellowship Liberia Country Director also encouraged them to be studious, and cautioned the students to take good care of the book bags and books given them that they may last for the academic year.