XN000022-1978-02-25 — Page 3

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SATURAI, FEBRUARY 25, 1978

THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL CONSIST OF THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WHO IS THE TRUSTEE OF THE FUND, THREE MEMBERS OF THE FISH MARKETING ADVISORY BOARD, TWO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

MR. NICHOLS EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN WOULD MAKE USE OF SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO STUDY THE LATEST TECHNIQUES IN NAVIGATIONAL AIDS, MARINE BIOLOGY AND OTHER SUBJECTS RELATING TO THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

HE ALSO REVEALED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO CONSIDERING INCREASING THE SECONDARY SCHOOL COURSE AT THE FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN SCHOOL IN ABERDEEN FROM THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

+THE ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS IN THE COURSE ARE AIMED AT MORE TECHNICAL SUBJECTS CONCERNING FISHING,+ HE ADDED.

MR. NICHOLS SAID: +MANY YEARS AGO FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN WERE AT A DISADVANTAGE REGARDING EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY LITERALLY LIVED AT SEA OR IN REMOTE VILLAGES. TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM A SMALL PORTION OF COMMISSIONS EARNED BY THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION IN THE SELLING OF CATCH IS RESERVED FOR THE EDUCATION OF FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN.

+NOW THERE ARE NUMEROUS SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY AND THE NEXT OBJECT IS TO AIM FOR MORE ADVANCED EDUCATION.

+AS THE FISHING FLEET GROWS IN SOPHISTICATION, SO SHOULD THE EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG ... THE FUTURE GENERATION,+ SAID MR. NICHOLS.

+SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN CONCENTRATING OUR ACTIVITIES TOWARDS THE FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THEIR UNIQUE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OFFER THEM EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES EQUAL TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS ON LAND AND NOW WE ARE STRIVING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL AS IMPROVING THE PRESENT FACILITIES.

+BUT LEGISLATION APPROVED LAST WEEK WAS NOT ONLY CONFINED TO THESE CHILDREN, ANOTHER BILL, THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND, WAS ALSO PASSED AND THIS ALSO HAS AN INITIAL CAPITAL OF $1 MILLION WHICH WILL BE FINANCED BY THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION, SAID HR. NICHOLS.

THIS SCHOLARSHIP FUND IS ALSO AIMED AT TERTIARY

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POST SECONDARY LEVELS AND ILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDPEK CONNECTED TC OR INTERESTED IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES.

AN ADVISORY BOARD SIMILAR TO THE ONE FOR FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN SCHOLARSHIP FUND WILL ALSO BE SET UP.

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