MTN Ghana Foundation has completed the screening of applications received for its Bright Scholarship programme instituted for tertiary students.

A total of 1,367 applications were received from students from all 10 regions of Ghana and the number was pruned to 205 applicants.

The short-listed candidates were then interviewed by a panel which comprised people from academia and accredited human resource personnel.

The panel will select 100 qualified students who will be awarded the MTN Bright Scholarships, which will cover the cost of tuition and accommodation. It also includes a stipend for books and other relevant reading materials for the duration of their studies. The list of successful students will be published in the newspapers.

Commenting on the Bright Scholarships, the Acting Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Mr. Samuel Koranteng said, “Through the screening process, it has been revealed that there are a lot of brilliant and needy students in tertiary institutions who need to be supported.”

“I am glad that MTN Ghana Foundation is reaching out to such students to enable them complete their education. Some of the stories are very heart-breaking and we are glad to be of help to these students,” he said.

The MTN Bright Scholarship is in fulfilment of a commitment MTN made to Ghanaians during the commemoration of its 20th anniversary in 2016.

During the celebrations, MTN, through the MTN Foundation, said it will award 100 scholarships to students in public tertiary institutions each year for three years.

In all, 300 scholarships would be awarded.

For over 20 years, Scancom PLC (MTN Ghana) has awarded over 1000 scholarships to students from basic school to the tertiary level. Apart from the Bright Scholarship, MTN Ghana Foundation launched the Teacher Improvement Award Programme in 2015. Since the inception of the programme, 60 teachers have been awarded scholarships to pursue First or Master’s degrees at the University of Cape Coast and the University of Education, Winneba.

MTN Bright Scholarship falls under Education, which is one of the three focus areas of the MTN Ghana Foundation. Since the launch of the MTN Foundation in 2007, the Foundation has invested in over 82 educational projects across the country.

Some of these projects include a boys’ dormitory block for Akropong School for the Blind, a six-unit classroom block for Kodjonya Millennium School, eight unit dormitory block for Owerriman SHS, a three-unit classroom block for Akatsi Basic School, 108 seater Library at Tsito Senior High School and the provision of over 1000 scholarships for needy and brilliant students across the country.

The Foundation will continue to commit resources to support initiatives such as this to enhance capacity building.