Out of 70 public school graduates that originally qualified for this year's Public School Scholarship awards, 57 were able to accept the offer and follow through to the visa process, which means the Bahamian Government along with 10 colleges and universities will invest close to $5.5 million in public school graduates in the form of scholarships over the next four years, according to Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald.
It's an investment he said that was a part of the government doubling its investment in education from $7.75 million in 2011 to $16.2 million in 2016.
This year's awards bring the number of public school students receiving tertiary education at institutions in the United States and Canada to 76. Next year, the education minister said he had committed to increasing the number of public school scholarship recipients to 100, and to double it to 200 recipients by 2019.
During the disbursement at the Second Annual Public School Scholarship Award on Monday at the Harry C. Moore Library at The College of The Bahamas, the education minister reminded recipients of their ambassadorial responsibilities to the country to do their best work and to represent well.
"When you find yourself buried beneath a mountain of books or when you find yourself in a lab that is demanding and taking everything out of you, or when you understand not one word coming out of your professor's mouth, just keep the faith and remember that the government and your college or university believe in you. We believe in spending the resources to develop every one of you and we hope that you go on to develop yourselves, and then come back and create a stronger and more modern nation in our small, but might country."
Fitzgerald told the students that the government was counting on their research, innovation and enterprise to continue the cycle of giving, and continuing to improve the Bahamian society an economy.
According to the minister less than 20 percent of the students graduating from the public secondary high schools in The Bahamas transition to pursue postsecondary education.
"There are a number of identifiable variables that may account for this, but the most obvious are the financial barriers of prohibiting students' access to local and international scholarships and financial aid opportunities. Furthermore, less than seven percent of public school students apply for and benefit from scholarships provided by the Ministry of Education to study abroad. Additionally, less than 20 percent of public school students apply for the bursary to attend the College of The Bahamas. This is generally due to a lack of awareness of the scholarships available and we at the Ministry are trying to increase the numbers by placing more emphasis on college awareness, readiness and preparation."
Fitzgerald said most of the scholarship recipients would be the first in their family to attend college and receive a college education.
The New Providence students receiving scholarships came from Anatol Rogers High School, C.I. Gibson High School, C.V. Bethel High School, R.M. Bailey High School, C.C. Sweeting High School, Doris Johnson High School, and C.R. Walker High School.
Family Island students receiving scholarships came from Inagua All Age School, Central Andros High School, North Andros High School, Jack Hayward High School, NGM Major High School, Abaco Central School, SC Bootle High School, RN Gomez All Age School and Samuel Guy Pinder High School.
"The scholarship recipients have achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher to qualify for either the academic or technical and vocational public school scholar awards. The recipients have been involved in extracurricular activities and have made contributions to their schools and communities. They have all met the admissions requirements of their various colleges and universities -- so none of the students have been given a hand out -- just a helping hand up," said Fitzgerald.
The students will pursue studies from hospitality and tourism studies, creative writing, pharmaceutical studies, mechanical and environmental engineering, computer information systems, finance, aviation management, meteorology, carpentry and sports management.
University partners donating scholarships include Fanshawe College -- $55,584; Florida Institute of Technology -- $100,000; Florida Polytechnic University -- $144,000; Texas Southern University -- $312,000; Middle Tennessee State University -- $336,000; Holland College -- $460,000; State University, New York Oswego -- $500,000; Central State University -- $743,872; and Taylor University, philanthropist Leland Boren and the Ministry of Education partnered to give $952,000; and Monroe College and the Ministry of Education -- $1.9 million.
Shavaughn Moss, Guardian Lifestyles Editor
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
