Total Sponsors More Girls for O-Level Education

Buliisa, Nwoya, 22 February 2016

More girls in Buliisa and Nwoya districts are set to benefit from Total E&P Uganda’s girls’ O-level education scholarship programme. The 10 girls have been selected by the company, partner schools and the District Education Officers of the two districts to pursue further education under the bursary at Pope Paul IV Anaka and St. Andrew Kaahwa in Hoima. This brings to 20 the number of girls from Nwoya and Buliisa districts benefiting from Total E&P girls’ education programme that was introduced in 2015.

According to Total E&P Uganda’s PRO Christopher Ocowun, all the school dues and scholastic requirements for both the continuing and new beneficiaries have been cleared to enable the students report for classes when the term opens on Monday 22 February 2016.

“Total E&P Uganda covers the school fees, scholastic materials, medical insurance, and also takes care of the accommodation at school. We also cater to transport to and from school for the students and accompanying parents and also facilitate the parents’ visitation trips”, Ocowun revealed.

Ocowun added that Total E&P Uganda, the licensed operator of EA-1 and EA-1A made a decision in 2015 in consultation with several district leaders and schools in Buliisa and Nwoya district to introduce the girl’s scholarship to boost the capacity of the female children in the two districts.

He noted that after launching the A-level scholarships in 2013, Total E&P Uganda realised that there were not many girls applying or emerging successful for the A-level science scholarships.
“We therefore embarked on consultations with several district officials and schools in the area, which revealed that many girls were forced to drop out after primary 7 for several reasons including the lack of school fees”, Ocowun remarked.

The scholarship targets girls who excel in primary exit examinations. At the end of every year, the company makes public announcements and places posters on districts and sub county offices notice boards in the targeted districts calling for applications. Application forms are placed at the respective District Education offices for interested parties to pick, apply and return. Upon release of the Uganda National Examinations Board results, the potential candidates are presented to the partner schools that then make a final decision basing on their respective criteria on which of the scholars they are willing to admit. The company then proceeds to communicate to the beneficiary scholars and the District Local Government.