U$20,000 for female science students

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07-08-08

THE University of Ghana yesterday received a cheque for $20,000 for academic awards to female students who distinguish themselves in the sciences.
The Presidential Advisor on Population, Health and HIV/AIDS, Professor F.T. Sai, presented the cheque donated by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) to the Prof. Sai Foundation for Women Studying Science of the university.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Sai urged the university authorities to include brilliant needy science female students for support.
He said there was the need for all to work towards ensuring gender equity in the admission of students to the university, adding that the absence of female scientists was the reason why there were no role models for female students.
According to him, access to science and economic education would, among other things, help to empower women, and advised the university to do a study on those who had benefited.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. C.N.B. Tagoe, said the Board of Trustees of Academic Prizes managed the fund, and that nominations for the award were done after the second semester examinations.
He said nominations were submitted by the Faculty of Science and the College of Agriculture and Consumer Science, adding that the five categories for the best Level 200 female students were: Biological Science, Mathematical Science, Earth Science, Physical Science and Agricultural Science.
To date, he said, 44 female students in the sciences had benefited from the award.
He assured Prof. Sai that the university would do a tracer study on the beneficiaries, and indicated that each award winner received a scholarship of GH¢600 in two instalments over a two-year period at Levels 300 and 400.
In 1995, Prof. F.T. Sai won the Prince Mihidol award for International Leadership and Advocacy of Gender Equity, Reproductive Health, Family Planning and Population.
He donated $20,000 of his prize money to the University of Ghana towards the establishment of an award of scholarship to women in the basic sciences to encourage females in the under-represented fields of science.