Esaase (Ash), July 24, GNA - Parents in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district of Ashanti have been advised to take advantage of the numerous scholarship schemes initiated by some institutions in the district by encouraging their children to go to school.

Mr Eddy Obeng-Darko, the Atwima-Nwabiagya District Director of Education, who gave the advice, said the Atwima-Mponua Rural Bank has for the past four years, offered scholarships worth over 60 million cedis to 364 brilliant but needy students and pupils.

He was speaking at the inauguration of Christian Orphan and Needy Institute at Esaase, near Akropong on Friday.

Mr Obeng-Darko said the bank has also offered 22 million cedis in scholarships to 100 pupils and 15 students for the 2005/2006 academic year.

The Nwabiagya Rural Bank, he said, has also spent over 250 million cedis to provide infrastructure and other facilities at the Barekese Secondary School and also annually provides school uniforms, exercise books and other stationery to basic school pupils. He said the district assembly has for the past four years sponsored more than 500 teacher trainees in various teacher-training colleges throughout the country.

Mr Obeng-Darko said Toase and Nkawie sub-traditional councils have also instituted scholarship schemes for brilliant but needy students, especially girls and have also encouraged the youth to acquire vocational and technical skills for decent living.

He noted, however, that the establishment of the scholarship schemes and other motivational mechanisms would not realise the desired objectives, if parents failed to encourage their children to go to school and also study hard.