Gov’t of Ghana Provides 10,000 Scholarships •For Study of Science, Maths and Technology in second cycle and tertiary institutions

Government is providing 10,000 scholarships for students studying Pure and Applied Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Courses at the Secondary, Tertiary and Vocational and Technical level for the 2011/2012 academic under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology. Applications for this year's scholarship open June 27th 2011. The Sector Minister Madam Sherry Ayittey who disclosed this to The Timeline in an interview indicated that this is the second phase of the Maths, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme (MASTESS), which was introduced in the 2010/2011 academic year. “Government has already released funds for this phase.” She said.

Interested applicants could pick application forms at the various District Education Directorates across the country. Some application forms are also available at the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology in Accra.

Madam Ayittey noted that the scholarship which targets brilliant but needy students is opened to both students who are now enrolling into institutions and continuing students. Last academic year, 5000 students in Second Cycle, Tertiary and Vocational Institutions benefited from the programme. “This year, we are doubling it and we hope interested applicants will respond promptly so that we'll be able to review them on time”.

She urged parents, guardians and all interested applicants to respond promptly to the publications by picking forms, completing them and submitting them early to allow the Assessment Committee ample time to review the applications. Students who were also not successful with their applications in the first phase are also encouraged to re-apply.

Speaking on the impact of the scholarships on the nation, Madam Ayittey noted “If a country will move towards achieving its millennium development goals, it is important to strengthen and resource scientific personnel in the country since we need the right technical knowledge and calibre of people that will drive government policies. That's why we are giving incentives to people nationwide to study science because countries all over the world are built on scientific knowledge”.

She said the scheme will also help build a local entrepreneurship for nation building since it will empower Ghanaians to take the helm of economic affairs of the nation and reduce the utilisation and dependence on foreign nationals.

Explaining the processes of last year's scholarships to The Timeline, Miss Adelaide Asante, Research officer at The Science, Technology and Innovative Directorate of the Ministry, said the committee received 15, 000 applications last year out of which 5000 were selected. The implementation was done in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, The Scholarship Secretariat as well as the Assessment and Implementation Committee. Members of these committees include personnel from the Education Service, heads of Agencies and Departments, heads of tertiary institutions and faculty members, etc. Just as this academic year, application forms were made available at the district education offices across the country as well as the Ministry's head office.

Miss Asante further explained that in determining the neediness of an applicant, the committee used factors such as applicant's parents' income level, number of siblings who are still in school etc which were extracted from the application forms. On the issue of brilliancy, she said the committee looks at one's BECE results slips for those enrolling into Senior High Schools and WASSCE result for those entering tertiary institutions. Continuing students' school records are also considered to determine the brilliancy. “Of course that doesn't mean we are only looking for strict 6As or 61s but the most important thing is that the person is showing interest in the course and has a potential to improve”. She remarked

Miss Asante also cautioned applicants against submitting their forms to the District Education Officers as happened last year and caused a lot of late submissions since these officers normally wait to post the forms in bulk “Parents should take the initiative to post the forms themselves after completion since we've provided the ministry's address on the forms”.

The ministry has put a system in place to monitor the progress of beneficiaries to ensure that they are still in school, maintain a good academic performance and are still pursuing the courses for which the aid was given. Forms will be sent to the beneficiaries which they will complete and return to the ministry to ascertain all these factors. “Any beneficiary who does not complete and return this form to us will have his/her scholarship discontinued. This will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Scholarship Secretariat” Miss Asante noted.

Madam Ayittey advised the beneficiaries to study hard and maintain their courses as anything contrary to these could result in discontinuation of a beneficiary's scholarship.