The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), has awarded scholarships to 15 female teachers from selected deprived communities to help them obtain diploma and degree qualification.
The scholarship is part of a $5,500 package from the Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF) aimed at supporting female teachers in remote communities.
Briefing the media on the disbursement of the fund in Accra yesterday, the National Gender Coordinator of GNAT, Mrs. Helena Awurusa said most female teachers were not able to pursue higher education as their male counterparts because, they were burdened with family responsibilities and financial constraints.
She said in spite of the challenges most of them wanted to undertake distance learning programmes and for a two year SANDWICH learning programme but needed support hence the initiative.
She said the initiative, which began some few years ago, saw the release of funds to five selected teachers last year while GNAT sponsored the education of four others.
This year, she said GNAT received more than 70 applications from the Brong Ahafo region, 10 from the Volta region, three from the Eastern and two from the Ashanti region with others from other parts of the country but 15 of them were selected after vetting.
Mrs. Awurusa said that GNAT set up a committee to review the qualification of applicants.
“The committee was also tasked to monitor the progress reports of beneficiaries of the scholarships.
According to her, the programme was to provide the teachers with financial assistance and also motivate them to accept posting to the rural and deprived areas where they would serve as role models.
Mrs. Awurusa also noted that another purpose for embarking on the programme was to help build the confidence and self-image of the female teachers and help strengthen the bargaining and fallback position of the union.
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