GREENVILLE, Sinoe – Ahead of the 2020 special senatorial mid-term elections, Sen. Augustine S. Chea of Sinoe has donated L$200,000 (US$1,010) to Sinoe Community College as financial aid to students of the college.

At least 50 students are expected to benefit from this donation.

Presenting the check to the finance office of the college over the weekend, Sorbor Wesseh, the senator’s campaign chair, said the gesture was aimed at promoting quality education in the county, as well as helping needy students access educational opportunities on equal footing with other young people in Sinoe.

According to Wesseh, Chea’s financial aid to high schools, colleges, and universities in the county has gone on since 2018, and over 300 students have or continue to benefit from it. Wesseh took the opportunity to encourage students of the county benefiting from the senator’s initiative to apply themselves to their studies as a means of brightening their future as leaders.

Sorbor Wesseh, chair of Sen. Augustine Chea’s campaign team. Photo: Teahwleh Clarke Geeplay

Speaking to The Bush Chicken, Wesseh disclosed that in addition to the financial aid, Chea was also funding the construction of a technical and vocational training center to offer technical skills to young people.

“Currently, as we speak, the technical and vocational center is nearing completion, and the senator is working out modalities to establish an agricultural farm that will provide jobs to citizens in the county, as well help in the area of food production,” Wesseh said.

Student groups at the college have been very pleased with the senator’s gesture. Hezekiah B. Monger, a student in the accounting and public administration program who is also a beneficiary of the senator’s financial aid, thanked the senator and called on his colleagues to ensure that they meet high academic expectations.

In related comments, the director of the agriculture program, Professor Ourphy Jelleh, suggested that in addition to residency within the county, Sen. Chea should add a requirement of a specific grade point average for beneficiaries.

There should be no excuse, he said, that any student should perform below expectations considering that their tuition are being paid for the sole purpose of allowing them to focus on their studies.

Jelleh’s suggestion received mixed reactions from students present, however.

Featured photo by Teahwleh Clarke Geeplay