About 417 High school students received $5,000 per year in scholarship monies, in total, $2.85 million to attend The College of The Bahamas (COB) this past Saturday.
According to Prime Minister Perry Christie the rationale behind the bursary is to not only assist families and individuals in having access to a proper education at tertiary levels but to in addition provide Bahamians with qualifications necessary for appointment to positions of responsibility, enable Bahamians to participate in the development and well being of the country and assist in developing the human capital of the commonwealth of the Bahamas in its entirety.
“Through these bursaries we have created solid middle class of people who are now the teachers nurses, public administrators , lawyers, accountant, churchmen , engineers, doctors and even politicians,” he said.
“We are counting on your research, your innovation and your enterprise so that we are able to continue this cycle of giving and providing for the next generation of deserving Bahamian students.” In order for students to maintain the scholarship during their time at the institution, they must pursue 15 or more credits and maintain a GPA of 3.00 or higher each academic year.
Students already in attendance may obtain the bursary award by maintaining, for a minimum of one year, a grade point average of 3.00 or higher.
Mr. Christie noted that opportunities like these are moments everyone should be proud of as the students are not simply being given a hand out but are being rewarded for academic excellence.
Minister of Education, Science and Technology the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald also brought remarks reiteration the Prime Minister’s sentiments for all those granted the opportunity to take full advantage.
The program which has been so far 38 years in existence allows Bahamian students specifically to pursue a college degree as a result of financial constraints.
Applicants must have obtained a minimum of five Bahamas General Certificates of Secondary Education (BGCSE) subject passes with a grade of “C” or above in order to participate.
