Total introduces two new scholarships for Nwoya, Buliisa

Buliisa/Nwoya, 2 December 2014

Total E&P Uganda, the licensed operator of Block 1 and 1A - Lyec has introduced two new educational scholarship programmes targeting the youth of Nwoya and Buliisa districts. These new educational scholarship programmes are the girl’s scholarship programme and the vocational skills training programme.

“The country needs more craftspeople to address the needs of the country’s economic development in line with new educational strategies of skilling Uganda and to partly address the needs of the new oil and gas industry”, said Total E&Ps PRO Christopher Ocowun.

“It is for this reason that Total E&P Uganda has ventured into vocational training to benefit 40 people from Buliisa and Nwoya districts who sat for UCE but were not able to continue with their education and those currently finalising senior 4 and 6. The vocational training will focus on Craft 1 certificate programmes”, he added.

The company also noted minimal penetration in the number of girl applicants for A-level studies in science subjects, especially in the districts of Buliisa and Nwoya. Upon consultation with several district officials and schools in the area, it was revealed that many girls drop out of school after P.7 for several reasons, while those that continue are also disrupted by various aspects, including lack of school fees. That is why the company has introduced 10 scholarships targeted for girls concluding their Primary 7, in 2014.

The new scholarship programmes start in 2015 and applications are currently being accepted until January 2015. The selection process is detailed in the specific application form for vocational studies available at DEO’s Office. All interested candidates should pick, fill the forms and then return them together with the required additional documents to the DEO’s offices in Nwoya, Nebbi, Buliisa and Masindi.

This now brings to three the number of educational scholarship programmes being offered by Total E&P Uganda, specifically targeting communities within their area of operations. Under the scholarship packages, the company covers the tuition fees, scholastic requirements, medical insurance, accommodation at school and transport to school and back home at the end of each term.

In 2013, Total E&P Uganda launched its local scholarship programme targeting 20 brilliant young students from O level to complete their A-level studies in top schools in Uganda, focusing on science subjects. The local scholarship seeks to give opportunity to top students from the districts found within our area of operations. These districts are Nebbi, Nwoya, Buliisa and Masindi.

Total hopes that enrolling these students in the top schools in Kampala will help them compete favourably with their counterparts at the national examinations and thereby improve their chances of gaining entry into some of the recognised universities and other institutions of higher learning worldwide. Currently, 35 students are benefitting from this programme, with 15 of the students doing their final UACE exams this November 2014. The rest are in senior 5.