Sampath Bank guides Grade 5 students to confidently face scholarship examination

Thanks to Sampath Bank, Grade 5 students in several areas will be able to face the scholarship examination next month with full of confidence.

At a series of seminars organised by the bank, the students will learn methods of managing time in writing answers and also the way to answer difficult questions. The most likely questions will also be discussed – all this while being provided with an opportunity to win valuable cash prizes.

“Account holders of ‘Sampath Pubudu’ and ‘Sampath Sapiri’ children’s accounts as well as non-account holders will find these seminars most useful,” Upul Nawarathne Bandara, Senior Manager, Marketing, Sampath Bank said.

As for the prizes, the five students obtaining the highest marks in each district will be awarded cash prizes of Rs. 5,000 each. The prize will be doubled if the winner is a ‘Sampath Pubudu’ or a ‘Sampath Sapiri’ account holder. In addition, the top five all-island winners will each be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 20,000. If the winner is a Sampath children’s account holder, the amount will be doubled. This is the second successive year that these seminars are being held. “Students found them most useful last year – that’s why we thought of holding the seminars this year too,” Bandara added.

The first seminar was held at the Madya Maha Vidyalaya, Homagama on 11 June and the second was held on 25 June at the Sanasa hall, Maradagahamula, Gampaha. The programme will be continued every Saturday in the coming weeks.

The   selected locations for July were Thambuththegama Central College – Anuradhapura, Sir John Kothalawala Vidyalaya – Kurunegala,  D.S. Senanayaka National College – Ampara and the seminars in those locations have already been concluded successfully. The next location will be Christ Church Girls School – Baddegama, Galle.

The seminars are being conducted by two experienced Government school teachers who are known to be the best in the related subjects. Notes will be distributed at the seminars which are being held from 8 a.m. until 12:30 in the afternoon. Arrangements have made for the participants to receive refreshments.

Meanwhile, when the children are at the seminar, Sampath Bank has arranged for the parents to be made aware of how they should guide the children for the Grade 5 scholarship examination. They will also be given a basic knowledge on banking and financial planning. When the programme was launched last year, five seminars were conducted in main towns of selected districts and the average participation at each seminar was around 800.

Of the Sampath Children account holders, Sampath Pubudu account holders can win valuable gifts based on the respective account balances and their age. Higher interest is given for Sampath Sapiri Childrens’ account.

Discussing the rationale of the programme, Bandara said that it has been planned to guide the young students on the precise path for education. “As a socially responsible banker to the nation, we are interested in guiding them in building their characters as well,” he said. The programme also helps to impart knowledge on banking to the parents who will get a basic idea of how to use their money wisely.

The programme is being organised in association with Neth FM Radio.