Navrongo (U/E), April 27, GNA - The Kassena-NanKana East District Assembly has launched an Educational Endowment Fund to support needy and brilliant students who, for lack of financial support, are unable to further their education.

The launch, which bagged GH¢12,000, was the contribution from sons and daughters from the area and other well meaning people from the region and beyond.

Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, the Upper East Regional Minister who launched the fund, called on the people of the region to support education in order to bridge the education gap between the north and the south.

He said the region lacked human resource and it was more pathetic when the Bolgatanga Regional health sector only had a ratio of one doctor to 34,000 patients and that the situation was more pathetic when students pass their examination and are unable to continue for lack of funds.

Mr Woyongo recalled a situation when he had to help five students to study medicine at the university and that the establishment of the Fund was timely and appealed to all to give their widow's mite to the fund.

He said whilst plans were underway to start similar funds in all districts, he had directed each district to sponsor at least five students every year to study medicine. "If education is our priority then we need to do more and by contributing to education, people's capacities would be improved in the North and help reduce poverty by mitigating its social effects on the population, health and nutrition", he said. Mr Woyongo appealed to Muslims, especially those in the Zongo communities, to end the era where their children were made to attend only Arabic schools. 93The combination of English and Arabic Education would make our children marketable on both the local and international job markets."