How well are our communities benefiting from our scholars?

EDITOR: Every year, we fund several scholarships. We need to do an audit to determine how well our communities have benefited from the beneficiaries of those scholarships. Just as the scholarship winners are published, in a similar fashion,those completing the studies should be published together with a description of how their studies are valuable to their communities.

Scholarships are awarded at the Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary levels. Those who read the local newspapers have the advantage because they would note the advertisements and apply. Thus, many disadvantaged students may be left out even though they may qualify. Although the onus is on the parents, students need to take some responsibility to read and grasp the opportunity because it is in their best interest to do so.

For the Tertiary Scholarships, perhaps students working in a particular field should apply at least one year in advance to ensure that there is genuine interest in studying in the particular discipline. The needs of the country should be surveyed and those more critical selected. Teachers have the ability to see the aptitude in students and can guide them along the path of their interest. The Technical areas seem to be under-subscribed. To meet this critical need all secondary schools should make provision for all students to do as core subjects, English, Math, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. In this way future Mechanics, Engineers, Technicians in every area,Agriculturalists, Physicians, Fishermen,Environmentalists, Volcanologists, and any other area of Science and Technology would have the background to pursue further academic and practical studies.

All attempts should be made to award scholarships to persons with genuine interest in their field. Thus, coaches should be preferred for scholarships in Sports, pan men and musicians for scholarships in music, Home Economics teachers for scholarships in Food and Nutrition. We need to create opportunities for scholars to demonstrate genuine interest in a field before scholarships are awarded. In too many cases, students take up scholarships in areas where they have no interest and we lose their service after so much investment in them. We should progressively be able to solve our problems by having experts being trained through scholarships to provide the solutions.

Anthony Stewart, PhD