US-funded scholarships help poor students complete school The Scholarship Programme to Enhance Literacy and Learning (SPELL) granted a total of 2,476 scholarships worth a combined US$557,000 to disadvantaged students in 7 central localities in the 2014-2015 academic year. During the 2015-2016 academic year, the programme will provide additional 583 scholarships for ninth-grade students. Established in 2004 by the US-based East Meets West organisation, SPELL’s objective is to promote school completion and a brighter future through education. It targets children of families among the poorest households in seven central localities of Quang Binh, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen. After 11 years of operation, the programme has presented scholarships to 5,790 students. In 2011, the SPELL Summer English Programme (SSEP) was set up to improve English and learning skills among students. Over the past five years, SSEP has funded more than US$176,000 to support high school students. Meanwhile, SPELL Goes to College (SGTC) was established in 2012. To date, it has provided four-year scholarships to 170 college students, each worth US$2,960. VNA