Sunkari Badjie, Chairman of Brikama Area Council (BAC), last Saturday presented a cheque for D344, 900 (Three hundred and forty- four thousand, nine hundred dalasis) to President Jammeh, as part of his council's contribution in the provision of scholarship for three hundred students in thirty-six schools in the western region, for the 2008 academic year.

Chairman Badjie made this presentation during the APRC victory celebration in Brikama, as part of the President's annual dialogue with the people tour.

According to Sereign Modou Joof, Brikama Area Council PRO, who doubles as the principal administrative officer, the scholarship package provides access for only the vulnerable children of Western Region to also enjoy the healthy type of education that other students are enjoying.

He disclosed that it  was the Alkalos of the concerned villages that identified those vulnerable students with the help from their respective village development committees, who had vetted the applications sent in by the beneficiaries before approval.

Mr Joof also mentioned the council's contribution in the completion of Wellingara market, in which he said the council had invested over D560, 000 (Five hundred and sixty thousand dalasis), plus a previous cash payments of D91, 035.00. He promised that strict measures would be taken to derive excellent results from these fortunate students, adding that if any student failed their examination for three consecutive times, that student would lose their scholarship. Mr Joof then thanked the principals and staff of the schools of Western Region for their cooperation and he urged the students to close ranks for their progress.