The Graduate Students' Association of Ghana (GRASAG) is embarking on the second edition of an annual event which takes them to deprive schools across the country to offer assistance in career and education counselling.

This year's outreach program is divided into two phases and it is dubbed; Annual National Schools' Outreach Program (ANSOP) and is under the theme: 'Motivation for higher level learning'.

The first phase will be on Friday March 19 and it will be a general interaction session for selected schools. The second, starting May 31 to August 6, 2010, GRASAG members will offer teaching assistance to selected deprived schools.

“This year, we have restructured the program and the focus is on deprived Senior High Schools and it is dubbed Annual National Schools Outreach Program (ANSOP),” Davida Borquaye, President of GRASAG disclosed in an interview with Myjoyonline.com.

The schools GRASAG hopes to cover in the outreach program include; Adankwaman Senior High School/Community, Assin Darmain, Assin Manso Senior High School – Assin Manso and Assin North Senior High/Technical High – Assin Asempaneye.

The rest are; Assin Nsuta Senior High School – Assin Nsuta, Nyakumase Ahenkro Senior High School – Nyankumase Ahenkro and Obiri Yeaboah Senior High School – Assin Fosu.

GRASAG will hold an interaction with schools and students on career counselling and guidance. They will also educate the students on course structure and course combination for the university and entry requirements.

“We want to motivate the students in any possible way we can so that they can aim at higher education hence the theme: Motivation for higher level learning,” Davida said.

They will also donate books to the deprived schools.

GRASAG is an association of graduate students and it has been in existence since 1993. It has its membership in all public universities in the country but hopes to include private institutions in the future. It is recognised as the official mouthpiece for all students pursuing postgraduate pragrammes (Masters and PhD) in Ghana.

Last year, GRASAG held the outreach program in Ajumako in the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam district of the Central region. They interacted with students and people of the community and they gave counselling on health/sanitation and education.

Davida expressed worry that they could not do more to help these needy communities and institutions due to financial constraints. She said members use their own resources to finance the outreach programs.

Davida therefore used to opportunity to appeal to cooperate institutions and individuals to come to their aid and donate for a worthy course.

Individuals and Cooperate bodies who will like to help GRASAG in their activities can contact Davida on 0244152504 or cash donations should be sent to BARCLAYS BANK GHANA LTD, ACCOUNT NAME: GRADUATE STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION OF GHANA, ACCOUNT NUMBER: 030101769666.



Story by Ernest Dela Aglanu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana