Scholarships to boost student literacy

The Intellectual Foundation of Jamaica (IFOJ) has awarded scholarships to two 10th-grade students of the Kingston High School in Jamaica, valued at US$3,600. The scholarships will defray the cost of transportation, school lunches, mandatory school fees, uniforms and textbooks, and is part of the IFOJ's effort to work with students in high-poverty schools across the island to boost student literacy and graduation rates.

"I am delighted that we are able to offer inner-city kids an educational opportunity they might not otherwise get because of their financial hardships," said IFOJ Treasurer Easton Dickson. "Providing scholarships not only lifts the financial burden off a family, but increases educational choices for the child that lead to long-term financial independence and personal growth."

In partnership with their mentoring programme, the IFOJ hopes to create successful role models who can increase the economic vitality of their communities.

"We are at a defining moment in the Jamaican school system where the educational crisis has put the nation's growth and long-term development at risk, and the IFOJ in partnership with schools, is committed to being part of the solution," said Dickson.

Independent charity

The award ceremony for the scholarship recipients was held recently at Kingston High School.

IFOJ is an independent, educational charitable organisation based in the United States whose goal is to actively foster a culture of learning and educational excellence by providing scholarships and mentoring to needy high school students.

Additionally, the charity channels teaching resources to under-funded institutions with the goal of influencing the growth of high-quality education in the most underserved sections of Jamaica's secondary-education system. IFOJ's vision is rooted in the belief that access to good education is one of the best paths to personal and national development.