Kohima, March 9 (EMN): Altogether 241 students were awarded a one-time Kohima Educational Trust (UK) Scholarship in various categories viz. war veterans, artist scholars and named sponsors and general KET.
The scholarships were given away by the Kohima Educational Trust (KET) in the presence of Bob Cook, trustee KET, in a programme held at Ura Academy hall on March 9.
The scholarships were awarded to 32 grandchildren of war veterans, five student artists and 204 students comprising Classes VIII-XI from the lesser socio-economic background. The scholarship carries a onetime cash of INR 9000 each.
The artists scholarship were sponsored by Tetseo Sisters, Methaneilie (Jütakhrie), Purple Fusion, Euphony Choir and Tali Angh.
The origin of the Kohima Educational Trust (KET) has an interesting background associated with the World War II. After sixty years of the battle, veteran of the 2nd Division decided to constitute the Kohima Educational Trust (KET) as a debt in honour of the Naga people during its annual reunion programme on the eve of its 60th anniversary of the battle in 2004.
The founders envisaged the Trust both as a means of sustaining the memory of the courage and sacrifice of those who fought and died in the battle and of honouring the Nagas who were their allies in the war. The Trust was formed with the objective to render assistance in the education of succeeding generations of Naga children.
The Trust was constituted in collaboration with the Kohima Educational Society (KES), a charity organisation formed by leading Naga citizens.
Talking to Eastern Mirror, Dr. P Ngully, KES chairman, said the primary purpose of the trust was to provide educational assistance to the young people of Nagaland in order to repay the debt of honour owed for their unstinting help given to the 2nd Division and other British Army units during the battles of 1944.
Ngully said support for the Trust comes from the band of veterans; from the contemporary 2nd Division, and from individuals and organisations who knew about the Kohima story.
When enquired how a beneficiary is identified, Ngully said applications were received through an advertisement in the local papers. Preference, he said, is given to the descendants of war veterans while the criteria for others is based on socio-economic status of the students inclusive of all Naga students, both near and far. He said the students have to write the application in their own handwriting with the income certificate attested or issued by the pastor or parish priest and a character certificate from their respective schools. After proper screening, he said selection is done basing on 50% academic performance and 50% on social economic status.
Ngully said a three-year scholarships are awarded to 25 students from Classes VIII till they passed out Class-X every year. However, he said the Trust has decided to further extend the scholarship covering students of Class-XII and even to technical students.
A beneficiary of the scholarship for the third year, Ketholeno Kikhi of Class XI from North Town Higher Secondary, Chumukedima, who came with her mother, said the scholarship has been a source of blessing in paying her school fees. In a family of five siblings with unemployed father, she said the scholarship has been helping her family tremendously. She was all praise to KET and the generous sponsors from abroad.
Another class-VIII student from LM High School in Mhainamtsi under Peren district and a first time recipient of the scholarship, Igualung, who came from Jalukie with the village chairman, was grateful that he could pay his school fees with the money he received today.
