Ernica Scott knows the meaning of sacrifice. She is a living example of it.
In May 2012, she accomplished a dream that her parents had for themselves, but never got an opportunity to fulfill. She became the first in her family to earn a college education, and, come June 2017, she intends to become a first-generation master's degree holder.
"My parents dreamed of going to university, but at the time they were not able to attend. Financially, they were not able to support themselves, so they just pushed and encouraged me to go," said the effervescent primary school teacher.
This spring, when Scott visited the Oakes Field Campus of University of The Bahamas (UB), her alma mater, she beamed while reminiscing about her college days. A moment later she was pensive, recalling her struggles to pay college tuition and fees. That was before she found out about the government bursary for students attending what was then the College of The Bahamas (COB).
"I received a full scholarship for my Bachelor of Education program. Previously, I was on another partial scholarship with COB, but I needed a full scholarship to be able to continue my degree, so that is why I applied for the teacher education grant. I could not have afforded to pay my tuition without that scholarship," she said. When she finally walked across the stage to receive her baccalaureate degree at the spring 2012 commencement ceremony, Scott's family shared in the overwhelming pride and profound accomplishment. It also fueled Scott's thirst for higher learning.
Within months of her graduation from COB, she was hired as a teacher at Garvin Tynes Primary School and began passing on to her eager, young students the knowledge and life lessons that she had acquired. Five years later, she is on the verge of completing a master's degree in new media at one of the top universities in Beijing, China.
For decades, through its disbursement of scholarships, the Ministry of Education has funded the tertiary educational pursuits of thousands of Bahamians who have been determined to make their mark on the world. In recent years, financial assistance for scholarships -- including the bursary, which is tenable at UB -- has grown more robust.
According to statistics from the Tertiary and Quality Assurance Division at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, 1,064 persons were recipients of the bursary during the 2011-2012 academic year; that number has grown incrementally over the years and stood at 2,183 for the 2015-2016 year.
"Many people desire a post-secondary education, but everyone cannot afford it. The government has been deliberate about increasing participation in higher education for our citizens by removing the financial barrier that many Bahamian families face," said Jerome Fitzgerald, minister of education, science and technology.
"As a result of the Ministry of Education's intervention, qualified individuals may apply for government-granted scholarships for studies abroad, or bursaries to pursue studies at the University of The Bahamas. UB is our national university but it has a legacy of exceptional education that prepares students to help build a stronger Bahamas through their professional aspirations and civic contributions."
Scott is eager to help make The Bahamas more resilient and competitive through her own pursuits and by inspiring her impressionable young pupils.
When Communication University of China has its commencement ceremony in June, Scott hopes to be among the thousands of students to walk across the stage and through the doorway of new opportunities that a university education will bring. For the Bahamian educator, they will be opportunities created through sacrifice and perseverance.
"Having a university degree for my future means forward movement. It means that I have more opportunities to excel and more opportunities to help others to excel. With this opportunity we can have a more progressive nation, because we would have more educated people that can make more educated decisions," she said.

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