GRADUATES from five Kingston schools have an increased opportunity to continue on to sixth form and university thanks to a Kiwanis Club of New Kingston 20th anniversary scholarship fund which has received a US$5,000 boost from the FirstCaribbean International Bank (Jamaica) Limited — almost half of the $1-million target set by the club.

Clovis Metcalfe, managing director of FirstCaribbean International Bank Jamaica Limited, in presenting the bank’s cheque to club president Suzanne Leslie-Dailey, applauded the initiative which he said was “a practical response to a need facing many young Jamaicans”.

Dailey noted that the club’s research had shown that many high school graduates, despite doing well in fifth form examinations, did not have the funds to go on to sixth form and matriculate to university level.

The Kiwanis Club of New Kingston 20th anniversary scholarship fund she said has targeted five schools where they have already established a sponsored youth programme (Key Clubs). Two of these schools, Denham Town and Trench Town High schools, she explained, are located in the inner city of Kingston and the students who excel at the CSEC level (grade 11), are particularly challenged to find the funds to move to the CAPE level (grades 12&13). In the case of these two schools, students have to travel out of their communities to attend grades 12&13 in other schools as these schools do not have a CAPE level programme. The other three schools to benefit from the scholarship fund are Immaculate Conception, Hydel and Dunrobin High schools.

The scholarships cover the economic cost of the CAPE level programme including tuition, books, uniform, lunch subsidy and transportation

The club’s Scholarship Planning Committee has planned a number of fund-raising initiatives geared at raising additional funds to sustain the students for the two-year period of the CAPE level programme starting January 2010.