Female SHS NSMQ Graduate Now Works in a Drinking Spot: Her Dream of University Education Dashed by Lack of Funds

Female SHS NSMQ Graduate Now Works in a Drinking Spot: Her Dream of University Education Dashed by Lack of Funds

One of the most painful experiences in Ghana is to see brilliant students who are unable to further their education due to financial constraints. This is despite the fact that scholarships are awarded to thousands of students every year.

In a recent social media post, renowned journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni brought to light the plight of a female SHS graduate named Jennifer Anaale Apingu. Jennifer worked as a head potter in the Ejisu market to fund her education up to the Senior High School level. Despite scoring 5As, 2Bs, and 1C in her WASSCE exams, she is unable to afford to go to university.

Jennifer Anaale Apingu, a brilliant Navrongo Senior High School graduate who represented her school in the 2021 NSMQ, now works as an alcohol retailer in a drinking shop to make ends meet, despite passing the WASSCE with flying colours.

Jennifer is currently working at a drinking spot in Navrongo to make ends meet. Her chances of successfully enrolling in university, even if she is admitted, are slim due to the lack of financial support.

Manasseh’s appeal for help:

Manasseh has appealed to benevolent individuals and organizations to help Jennifer achieve her dream of going to university. His appeal has been met with an outpouring of support, with many people pledging to help in their own way.

Jennifer’s story is a reminder of the challenges that many brilliant students face in Ghana. It is also a reminder of the importance of providing financial support to students who are unable to afford to further their education.

There are a number of reasons why many brilliant secondary school graduates in Ghana do not get the scholarships to further their education. These include:

• The scholarship application process is often opaque and difficult to navigate. The requirements for applying for scholarships vary from one organization to another, and the application process can be complex and time-consuming. This can make it difficult for students who are not well-connected or who do not have access to good information to apply for scholarships.
• The politicization of the scholarship awarding process. In some cases, scholarships are awarded based on political affiliation or other factors that have nothing to do with merit. This can prevent brilliant students from low-income families or from marginalized groups from getting the scholarships they need to further their education.
• The influence of persons in authority. In some cases, scholarships are awarded to students who are recommended by persons in authority, even if these students are not the most qualified. This can prevent brilliant students who do not have connections from getting the scholarships they need.

In addition to these factors, there are also a number of other challenges that can prevent brilliant secondary school graduates in Ghana from getting scholarships. These include:

• The high cost of education. The cost of education in Ghana has been rising steadily in recent years. This makes it difficult for many families to afford to send their children to university, even if they are eligible for scholarships.
• The lack of awareness of scholarship opportunities. Many brilliant students in Ghana are not aware of the scholarship opportunities that are available to them. This can prevent them from applying for scholarships and from getting the financial support they need to further their education.

The challenges that prevent brilliant secondary school graduates in Ghana from getting scholarships are significant. However, there are a number of things that can be done to address these challenges. These include:

• Making the scholarship application process more transparent and accessible. Scholarship providers should make the application process more transparent and accessible to all students. This could include simplifying the application process, providing more information about the requirements for applying for scholarships, and making it easier for students to apply for scholarships online.
• Ending the politicization of the scholarship awarding process. Scholarship providers should ensure that scholarships are awarded based on merit, not on political affiliation or other factors. This could involve setting up independent boards to oversee the scholarship awarding process and ensuring that the selection criteria are clear and transparent.
• Reducing the influence of persons in authority. Scholarship providers should reduce the influence of persons in authority in the scholarship awarding process. This could involve limiting the number of scholarships that can be awarded on the basis of recommendations and ensuring that the selection criteria are based on merit, not on connections.

By addressing these challenges, it is possible to ensure that more brilliant secondary school graduates like Jennifer Anaale Apingu, a brilliant Navrongo Senior High School in Ghana have the opportunity to further their education and reach their full potential.