In response to public concerns and perceived misconceptions regarding its new initiative, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has clarified that the inauguration of the COCOBOD Education Trust is not a termination of its Cocoa Scholarship Scheme, but an evolution of its educational support programs.
The Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Cocoa Board, in a statement, stated that the COCOBOD Education Trust aims to diversify and better serve the changing educational needs of rural communities.
The statement explained that by reallocating funds previously designated for scholarships, the Trust will focus on improving basic educational infrastructure in cocoa-growing areas.
The Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Cocoa Board further noted that the inauguration of the five-member Board of Trustees for the COCOBOD Education Trust signifies a departure from the traditional Cocoa Scholarship Scheme, which was established to support the secondary education of wards of cocoa farmers.
The statement emphasized that even though the traditional Cocoa Scholarship Scheme has been a pillar of educational support for over 70 years, the introduction of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy in 2017 has rendered the scheme less relevant, as secondary education fees are now covered by the government.
“On Monday, May 20, 2024, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Peter Mac Manu, inaugurated a five-member Board of Trustees for the newly established COCOBOD Education Trust.
“This new Trust represents a system designed to utilise funds previously allocated to the Cocoa Scholarship Scheme, which has seen changes in relevance following the introduction of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy in 2017”.
Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Cocoa
Bridging the Infrastructure Gap
According to the statement, the newly inaugurated COCOBOD Education Trust will prioritize the development and provision of essential facilities such as classrooms, libraries, and teachers’ bungalows to rural communities across the country, particularly those in cocoa-growing areas.
The initiative, the statement stated is designed to bridge the significant infrastructure gap between schools in deprived areas and those in urban centres, adding that by providing a conducive learning environment, the COCOBOD Education Trust aims to ensure that children in cocoa-growing communities receive quality education.
Commitment to Education
Moreover, the Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Cocoa Board reiterated its Board Chairman, Mr Peter Mac Manu’s unwavering commitment to education in Ghana.
The statement recounted that despite concerns among the public, regarding the new system as a failure or collapse of the Scholarship Scheme, the Ghana Cocoa Board is committed to supporting education in Ghana.
It emphasized that the inauguration of the new COCOBOD Education Trust is a new chapter in the Ghana Cocoa Board’s efforts to support the education of wards of cocoa farmers, underscoring Cocobod’s confidence to make a positive impact on the lives of many Ghanaians.
Innovative Methods for Evolving Needs
In addition, the statement added that the establishment of the COCOBOD Education Trust is seen as a strategic initiative to build on the successes of the past while introducing innovative methods to meet the evolving needs of beneficiaries.
This includes ensuring a conducive learning environment and providing resources and infrastructure that are essential for quality education.
The Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Cocoa Board concluded its statement by calling on the general public to continue supporting the organization as it transitions to its newly enhanced system of educational support.
It emphasized that the COCOBOD Education Trust represents a forward-thinking approach to sustaining educational development in Ghana’s rural cocoa-growing communities, stressing on the initiative intention to redefine educational support for cocoa farmers’ wards, focusing on infrastructural development and resource provision to enhance the learning experience in rural schools.
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