MTN SA Foundation has rewarded top-performing matriculants with bursaries and laptops to assist them in furthering their studies and gaining access to the technological tools that are critical in doing so.
The recipients of the18 bursaries and 200 laptops include the three top performers in South Africa in the learners with special educational needs category. A top-performing learner who is visually impaired will receive a laptop with specialised software and 10 GB of data.

Two qualifying learners in each province, who have been selected by the provincial education department, will receive the bursaries.The bursaries cover registration, tuition, accommodation, books, pocket money and top-up allowances, should the recipients opt to commute from home to their centre of learning.

“MTN is cognisant of the socioeconomic conditions that hamper academically gifted learners from furthering their studies. This gesture provides a lifeline for them, hope for the future and an opportunity to break the vicious cycle of poverty and reach for their dreams,” says MTN SA Foundation general manager Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi.

She adds that the foundation is committed to working in partnership with government to support initiatives aimed at enhancing teaching and learning in schools.

It has been involved in education through information and communication technology (ICT) for more than ten years, with its holistic educational programme addressing the learner, educator and educational environmental needs.

“The exceptional academic achievements of these learners is indicative of what hard work and focus can achieve. Support from the foundation is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that we make a positive difference in the communities in which we operate and contribute positively to developing a cadre of learners that will contribute to the growth and development of our economy.”

She notes that MTN has been active in the field of education for a long time and that the company’s education portfolio covers primary to tertiary education.

“We also want to upskill students in engineering and accounting, where there are skills shortages in the South African economic environment.”

Mtunzi-Hairwadzi says MTN’s criteria for awarding a bursary includes an average pass rate of 70% and above or higher in all subjects: “We want someone who is dedicated and there are many South African children who have managed to get those results.”

The initiative started in 2013, with two students receiving bursaries, but the bursary port- folio will increase to 100 a year, with five bursaries awarded per province, she adds.