Ghanaian students in Hungary have called on the government and the Scholarship Secretariat to expedite the payment process of their stipends, which have not been paid for over the past six months.
The students’ association, in a statement dated Thursday, April 4, said several efforts to get the Secretariat to address their issue have not yielded any positive results.
“For the past six months, the Ghanaian government has failed to fulfill its crucial responsibility of providing monthly stipends to about 215 students, comprising undergraduates, masters, and PhDs. This negligence has had profound consequences on students’ academic performance and mental well-being.”
“Repeated appeals, manifested through letters, have been made to all stakeholders in Ghana, but sadly, no response has been received, plunging these promising young individuals into desperation and disillusionment,” the statement added.
They stressed that the increasing living costs in Hungary further exacerbated their plight, despite the Hungarian government fulfilling its obligation to the students.
It said, “Conversely, the Hungarian government has commendably fulfilled all its obligations stipulated in the scholarship agreement.”
“However, the constant rise in living costs in Hungary exacerbates the hardships faced by students,” the statement emphasised.
The students therefore appealed for a “timely disbursement of stipends and allocation of book allowances at the start of the academic year.”
This, they say, is “essential to restoring hope, enabling academic success, and fulfilling the dreams of these bright Ghanaian students.”
