AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem (AAI) Mine, on Wednesday awarded scholarships, estimated at 75,000 Ghana Cedis, to 42 students in its catchment communities, for the 2014/15 academic year, as part of company's corporate social responsibility, to support needy but brilliant students in deprived communities..

The beneficiaries, made up of 17 students from second cycle institutions, six from vocational training schools, and 19 from the tertiary level, were selected from 19 communities.

Speaking at the function, a senior manager of the Mine in-charge of sustainability, Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo, said the company received over 170 applications for scholarships from students in the company's host communities, but due to limited funds, only few candidates were considered by the Scholarship Award Committee.

He said the scholarship package includes school fees and an amount of 1,000 Ghana Cedis, to the beneficiaries occupying students hostels, for every academic year.

Mr. Baidoo added that since the inception of the Iduapriem Mines Community Scholarship Scheme seven years ago, 175 students have so far benefited from the scheme.

He said the company is also supporting 48 continuing students, and it is also implementing a Basic Education Project which is aimed at raising the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) pass rate in the Mine's catchment communities to 70 per cent.

Mr. Baidoo emphasized that as part of the Basic Education Project, the company has presented teaching and learning materials worth 10,000 Ghana Cedis to the Adieyie, Tebrebie, Abompuniso and Wangarakrom/Badukrom basic schools.

He advised the beneficiaries to study hard, to enable them serve their communities and society at large when they complete their courses.

The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Director of Education, Mrs. Veronica Ama Jackson, asked parents of the scholarship beneficiaries to encourage their wards to concentrate on their studies.

She asked Junior High School three pupils who refuse to attend classes after registering for the Basic Education Certificate Examinations, to desist from the practice.

The Queen-mother of Adeiyie, Nana Yaa Sarah, commended Management of AAI Mine for instituting the scholarship scheme, to give opportunity to less privileged children to further their education.