Three hundred students in universities will be privileged to enjoy free scholarship scheme packages under the sponsorship of MTN Foundation Ghana, effective the 2018 academic year.

Briefing some members of the Journalists for Business Advocacy (JBA) in MTN House, Accra, Mrs Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Senior Manager of Sustainability and Social Impact said the scholarship will support 300 students for three years to study free at any of the government universities.

She hinted to the JBA that the Foundation initially wanted to support students at the Senior High Schools but had to halt because the government had taken that initiative, hence the option for the tertiary schools.

Mrs Fiagbenu explained that the criteria for the selection of the students will be made known to the public at the launch of the scheme in 2018.

She explained that the selected students will enjoy the package of free accommodation, tuition and textbooks for the course.

The Foundation since its inception has also provided scholarships through Teacher Improvement Award Programme for 20 public teachers in the country to upgrade their educational knowledge to first degree and masters in order to help deliver quality teaching in the educational sector.

“It is important for us to pay greater attention to the training and support of our teachers so that they will constantly update their knowledge and adopt best practices to conform to the needs of modern students,” Mrs Fiagbenu stated.

She explained that in the third edition of the awards, six female and 14 male teachers were given scholarships to enhance their skills, which will translate into effective teaching and learning in the public institutions.

She urged female teachers to take advantage of these opportunities as their male counterparts.

“Since the inception, female participation has been low. We want to see more women participating in capacity building initiatives such as this,” she said.

Awards

The Senior Manager highlighting on the awards of the Foundation said “Every initiative undertaken, every innovative stride made, every award won… it’s all geared towards making our customers’ lives a whole lot brighter, as we lead the delivery of a bold, new digital world…”

Some of the awards were Corporate Philanthropist of the year Award 2017; awarded by National Philanthropy Excellence Awards; Safety and Well Being Award from GHACEA CSR 2017 : awarded by Ghana CSR Excellence Awards; CSR Practitioner of the year Award: awarded by Ghana CSR Excellence Awards; Relationship Award for Yello Care 2017 : Aawarded by MTN Group.

The Foundation also won GITTA CSR Company of the year -2016, by Ghana Information Technology and Telecoms Awards; Best CSR Company of the Year 2016 – by Ghana CSR Excellence Awards; National Blood Service Highest Corporate Donor Award 2015 : by National Blood Bank; MTN HOC as CSR Programme of the year 2015, Presidential Excellence Awards; Otumfuo Osei Tutu Charity Special Award for Enormous Contribution to Teaching & Learning : by Otumfuo Foundation; Best CSR Award for Sustainability, Environmental and Social Impact Award 2015 by Ghana CSR Excellence Awards.

Other are Yello Care Integrity Award -2015; by MTN Group; Yello Care Innovation Award -2014; by MTN Group; Yello Care Overall Winners 2010/2011; by MTN Group and Yello Care WECA Regional Champions 2008; awarded by MTN Group.