Ms Emelia Arthur, District Chief Executive for the Shama District Assembly, on Tuesday, reiterated the need for mothers’ to shun “investments” in funerals, and rather, invest in the education of their children for a better future. “Please stop buying new cloths for every funeral as well as preparing expensive foods, which takes the bulk of monies for your children’s education,” she pleaded. Ms Arthur made the call, when she presented various scholarship packages to the tune of over GHC 35,000 to 242 students, in the district, at Shama, in the Western Region. The breakdown is as follows; Medical students, 3, University students 43, Polytechnic students, 43, Nursing, 12, Teacher training, 24 and Senior High School, 117. The District Scholarship programme was instituted by the assembly, as a means of whipping up interest in education for the youth, to defeat the 70 per cent examination failures that had become a ritual in the district. Ms Arthur noted that, the assembly had to raise its budget from GHC 30,000 to over GHC 35, 000, to demonstrate the assembly’s commitment in ensuring a successful education for the benefit of both the present and future generation. She noted that, the assembly could however not support the entire 356 applicants, who were interviewed. Ms Arthur said government was still committed towards improving education across the country, adding that, “It is gratifying to know that our district has benefited from government’s free exercise books and uniforms”. She re-echoed the need for students to avoid anti-social vices, like alcoholism, smoking and disobedience, which could destabilize their future. Source: GNA