TUBMANBURG, Bomi County — Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. has increased the number of beneficiaries under his 2026 Back-to-School Vacation Job Initiative from 450 to 500 students following what he described as an overwhelming response from students across the county.
According to the Senator, the decision was prompted by the high number of registrations, particularly in Tubmanburg, where 780 students applied for only 150 available slots.
As part of the expansion, the allocation for Tubmanburg has been increased from 150 to 200 beneficiaries, bringing the total number of students expected to benefit from the countywide initiative to 500.
Under the program, participating students will spend two hours each day cleaning and preparing their respective school campuses ahead of the reopening of schools. Upon completing the exercise, each student will receive LRD 5,000 to help cover school registration fees and other back-to-school expenses.
Senator Snowe said the strong turnout reflects both the eagerness of young people to continue their education and the economic challenges many families face in preparing for the new academic year.
The initiative marks a further expansion of the program, which benefited 375 students last year. It was initially increased to 450 students for 2026 before an additional 50 slots were approved in response to the high level of demand.
The Senator also noted that the vacation job initiative complements his education support programs, including a 100 percent scholarship scheme currently benefiting 100 students at Western Region University, formerly Bomi Community College. The scholarship recipients are drawn from the various districts of Bomi County.
Despite the increase in available spaces, Snowe acknowledged that the program will not accommodate every student who registered.
He said his office remains committed to supporting education within its available resources by helping reduce some of the financial barriers that prevent students from enrolling in or remaining in school.
According to the Senator, the initiative is intended to provide students with temporary employment while promoting community service through the cleaning and preparation of school campuses ahead of the new academic year.
He described education as one of the most important investments in the future of Bomi County, reaffirming his commitment to supporting initiatives that improve access to learning opportunities for young people across the county.
