Minister On Government Scholarships, Awards

May 5, 2014

Today, Dr Grant Gibbons, Minister of Education and Economic Development moved to address what he said was some “misinformation that has been circulating on the granting of scholarships and awards.”

The Minister stated, “The Ministry of Education and Economic Development continues to make a substantial investment in public education and post-secondary scholarships and awards to students with outstanding academic achievement, students in financial need who are in good academic standing, mature students, and promising candidates for bachelor of education degrees.

“The provision of scholarships and awards is recommended by the Scholarships and Awards Committee, a sub-committee of the Board of Education. Through the Board of Education, recommendations are made to the Minister of Education and Economic Development on the award of Bermuda Government Scholarships.

“The Board also has responsibility to award Mature Student Awards, Further Education Awards and Teacher Training Awards. The Scholarships and Awards Committee has, as was the case last year, been tasked with reviewing the budget and making recommendations for the allocation of monies for each of the scholarships and awards categories.”

“The 2014/2015 budget for scholarships and awards has been set at $1,000,000. This is a small decrease from last year’s actual spend of $1,241,000.

The Minister continued, “The Scholarships and Awards Committee can make recommendations to change the amount of money allocated for each scholarship and award category, keeping in mind the number and quality of applicants for each category. I can then review their recommendations and act accordingly.”

“To date, for this year, the Ministry of Education and Economic Development has received approximately 200 applications for scholarships and awards from 160 applicants, as some students apply to more than one scholarship category. This is a slight decrease from last year, when 238 applications were received from 195 applicants.

“Members of the public may recall that in 2013, the Government introduced changes to the Bermuda Government Scholarship [BGS] regime, the Government’s most expensive and generous scholarship. Prior to changes being made, the Government used to fund the entire cost of a student’s tuition for a period of up to three years.

“On top of tuition, other expenses were also covered such as expenses for subsistence as well as accommodation at a rate equal to the cost of dormitory accommodation for a single student, a one-way airline ticket at the beginning of studies, and a one-way airline ticket to return to Bermuda upon successful completion of studies.

“The unlimited funding of total tuition made the BGS unsustainable in the long term, with some scholarships costing upwards of $70,000.

“The scholarship was only tenable for up to three years, requiring the recipients to either request extensions and/or seek other funding for their fourth year of university.

“The new BGS regime set a cap of $35,000 per year and extended the scholarship to four years. This allowed the Ministry of Education and Economic Development to appropriately budget and plan for future scholarship expenses for all scholarships and awards categories. The new regime has resulted in cost savings that will be fully realized once all BGS recipients from the previous regime complete their studies.”

The scholarships and awards categories are as follows:

Teacher Training Awards: which are valued at $15,000 per year for up to three years and given to promising Bachelor of Education candidates studying subjects where there are shortages of local candidates, such as geography, English language, arts, mathematics, modern foreign languages and special education. Awardees are expected to return to Bermuda and teach within the Bermuda Public School System;

Mature student Awards: which are valued at $15,000 for up to three years for successful candidates who are over the age of 35 and who wish to return to post-secondary education;

Further Education Awards: which are valued at between $1,500 and $10,000 and awarded to students who are in financial need studying at university, and who have a GPA of 2.0 [70%] and above; and;

Bermuda Government Scholarships: which are valued at up to $35,000 for tuition and accommodation for Bermuda’s top scholars, many of whom in recent years have held a GPA of at least 3.9 and above. This scholarship is tenable for four years.

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  1. PLP Call On People To Join Today’s Silent Sit-In | Bernews.com | May 6, 2014
  1. Lauren Bell says:

    And this statement brilliantly dodges that concerns expressed in the community regarding the cutting of financial-need based awards (aka Further Education Awards) from $750k to $40k

    • Terminator says:

      If the total for all awards and scholarships was only reduced by $241,000, then what you are claiming–that a single award program was cut by $710,000–can’t be factual.

      • Lauren Bell says:

        Financial-needs based awards have been reduced from $750k to $40k

        There’s no disputing this fact

        Have a look at the approved Budget

        • Terminator says:

          Look a little closer. The PLP Government spent $760k on Further Education Awards in budget year 2012/2013, the same year they overspent the Department of Education budget by approx $3million. The overspending had to stop, and the OBA was faced with the hard task of doing just that. Last year, during the 2013/2014 budget, $240,000 was spent on Further Education Awards. The budget estimate for 2014/2015 is $40k,a figure that may be changed as the year progresses. This is not anti-Bermudian, this is realism.

          • Lauren Bell says:

            Ummm, look a little closer and you will see that OBA also over-spent last year. In fact, our govt spent $45m over budget.

            No question that our paid officials need to keep on budget – that is across for BOTH sides of the House, right? We MUST deliver stick to our budget going forward.

            But don’t tell me we have no money to support financial need based scholarships when we are paying a speech writer and a political advisor for our Premier a combine total of $250k per year. This is basically PR for a politician.

            Don’t tell me we have no money while paying the Tourism Board members $2k PER MEETING

            Don’t tell me we have no money while our govt spends over $5m on their travel budget which is, by the way, $1.6m more than PLPs was

            We have money; its how we opt to allocate it is the issue.

            What are our priorities? EDUCATION MUST BE PRIORITY.

          • Lauren Bell says:

            Ummm….look even closer. You do know that OBA overspent to the tune of $45m last fiscal year, right?

            There is no question that our paid politicians need to stick to a budget – you’ll get no argument from me here but this principle needs to be applied across both sides of the House, right?

            Don’t tell me we don’t have money to fund financial-need based scholarships while we use taxpayers dollars to pay a political advisor and a speech writer for our Premier a combined total of $220k. We are misusing our limited funds to provide PR for our Premier??

            Don’t tell me we don’t have the money when our taxpayers dollars are being used to pay the Tourism Board members $2k PER MEETING.

            Don’t tell me we don’t have the money when our taxpayers dollars are being used to fund over $5m in travel expenses for our well-paid politicians. BTW, this amount is $1.6m above the PLP’s travel budget.

            Don’t tell me we don’t have the money when our politicians failed to reduce their salaries by the promised 10%.

            We have the money; the issue is it’s allocation.

            Priorities

            Our collective priority MUST be education because if we fail to invest now, there will be devastating long-term costs in the future.

  2. hmmmm says:

    What the hell? I’m so over OBA.

  3. Terry says:

    Correct thing to say is ‘I am OBA diss”.

    Rip Bermuda.

  4. Sen. Diallo Rabain says:

    So the minister has finally decided to speak on this topic! In usual fashion, the OBA attempts to deflect from their abysmal approach to funding students seeking to further their educations with deliberate play on words!

    The minister states “…the 2014/15 budget for scholarships and awards has been set at $1,000,000. this is a small decrease from last year’s actual spend of $1,241,000…”

    What is missing is how those funds are allocated. In the 2014/15 budget $825,000 has been budgeted for Scholarships, $30,000 allocated to Teacher Training Awards, $85,000 allocated to Mature Student Awards, $40,000 allocated for Further Education Awards that are based on financial need for a total of $980,000. Each of these allocations have been allocated to individual cost centres.

    As per the OBA’s change of financial instructions, money allocated to a cost centre cannot be spent on another cost centre. So to read about the ability to change money allocations between categories doesn’t fly with me. Plus, as the former Minister of Education has already told us, this year’s scholarships allocation includes enough money to cover the last of the scholarship recipients under the previous Bermuda Scholarship Act amendment.

    No matter how they try to spin it, the fact remains that this Gov has slashed the funds for students that demonstrate financial need to draconian $40,000 from $760,000 in just 2 years. From the minister’s statement, the awards based on Financial need range from $1,500 to $10,000. So the allocation of $40,000 will result in help for only a max of 26 to a low of 4 students. From the 160 applicants, there will sure to be many of them that will face the stark reality of not being able to continue their studies this year.

    • O'Brien says:

      Anything to say, Senator, about why these cuts are necessary? No comment on how we got to such a state that even education awards need to be reduced? Cat got your tongue?

      It takes a special sort of nerve to make the mess your lot did during your last five years in power then turn round and criticise those tasked with cleaning it up. Maybe next time try a dignified silence.

    • Sad says:

      What is your opinion on the claim that the new system will allow for more students to receive funding going forward as opposed to large amounts previously given to a smaller number of applicants as indicate on FB. Do you believe that the old scholarship regime was sustainable given the high expenses of certain students (I.e. $70k per year for one)? If not what would be your solution.

      Also, are not all scholarships afforded to those that can demonstrate a need for financial assistance? So wouldn’t it be safe to say that the ones who need the help will essentially receive monies no matter the ‘cost center?’

      At first I was concerned by the claims that scholarships have been reduced by 80% as is the current narrative on island. But then I realised I needed to dig deeper instead of listening to partisan rhetoric. I guess that’s why I am asking of your opinion on the above, as to avoid the same mistake twice.

      • Sen. Rabain says:

        Hello Sad,

        1. The Bda Gov. Scholarship is based on Academic Excellence only. No matter that the budget, there are a max of 8 (as based on the Bda Gov Scholarship Act) that have to be budgeted for. Once awarded on, as long as you maintain your grades, you will automatically receive funds for up to 4 years.

        2. Further Education Awards are given to those who demonstrate grades AND Financial Need. These awards have to be applied for every year and there is no guarantee that if you got one in one year, you will get it again in subsequent years.

        3. Based on #1 above, the funds allocated for the scholarship cost centre can only be used on that.

        4. Further Education Awards average about $5,000 per award. So in 2012 there was funding for potentially 152 students, in 2013 for 76 students and in 2014 for 8 students. In 2012, 2013 and 2014 the Bda Scholarship cost centre provided for 8 students only.

        I hope this clarifies things for you.

        • Sandy Bottom says:

          The $60m wasted on Grand Atlantic would have been useful right now wouldn’t it?

        • Sad says:

          Thanks.

          But you did not answer the claim that the original scheme was simply not sustainable in the long term. Do you believe that? Or will a cap of $35k, which is a lot of money, allow for more funds to be spent on more students as opposed to the previous regime of spending nearly double that figure ($70k) on a single student. From my perspective allowing more to he spent on more students is a positive change.

          Also, despite the claims the fact is that scholarship funding has been reduced (as is the case for every ministry budget) by $241k as opposed to the ‘draconian’ $700k that you an others are passing off as the absolute truth. So where exactly is the other $460k ($700-$240) being allocated as this amount is still being utilised for scholarship funding?

    • gmsgms says:

      Sen Rabain,

      Knowing that the Bda Govt needs to cut its expenditures if we are to avoid financial ruin (we do know that, right?) what cuts to other programs would you propose to facilitate the continued funding of these scholarships at the previously prevailing rates?

      Can you be specific, please? Dollar amounts and the Ministries and programs to which the cuts would apply would be tremendously helpful.

      I think it would be great that if everyone that opposes cuts announced by the Govt could, in turn, present their slate of funding cuts, detailed by ministry and program with the dollar cuts to each, that they would accept to free up funds to avoid the cuts they decry. In that way, the voters and taxpayers of Bda can truly judge which option is better and which party is proposing the best solutions. It would come in very hand come the next election. We all could have a long track record of competing ideas on which to judge candidates and parties.

      • Golly says:

        How about the Premier’s aids? Or is it too much to write a heartfelt speech?

      • JustAskin2 says:

        Hmm… the OBA states that the economy is improving and yet we’re still singing the “road to financial ruin” song. I wish you lot would make up your minds…

        • bermyluv says:

          It’s called debt. Even if the economy was singing along, we still have been burdened with over 1 billion dollars of debt.

      • Sen. Rabain says:

        Hello GMSGMS,

        We could start right here…

        Don Grearson – $113,480 to write speeches
        Charmaine Burgess – $105,765 to organize press conferences
        10 Members of tourism board – $200,000
        Premier Cannonier travel – $180,515
        Min. Crockwell travel – $167,144
        Total gov. travel for 2013 – $5,067,000

        • bermyluv says:

          How do these numbers compare to spending under the PLP?

    • Unbelievable says:

      Ahhhh….it’s so easy to be in Opposition isn’t it? Especially when you created the mess in the first place.

    • Kangoocar says:

      Sen Rabain, until you and your plp tell us were the unaccounted for $800 million is, I suggest you STHU, you have some nerve??? your party has caused more fiscal carnage to this Island than any other event!!! The OBA are now forced into making drastic cuts ( and in my view not enough ) to clean up your mess!!! Your mess is exactly why those that need the help the most now, which by the way is mostly YOUR supporters can’t get it!!! Try being honest for a change, will you?????

    • Serengeti says:

      “As per the OBA’s change of financial instructions, money allocated to a cost centre cannot be spent on another cost centre.”

      You say this as a criticism. So the PLP would no issue with money allocated to one cost centre being spent by another cost centre, apparently.

      This is part of the problem. The PLP had and has no idea about what it means to budget, plan, and stick to a budget. That’s how we ended up billions in debt.

  5. Sad says:

    Why would any undergraduate scholarship be available for only 3 years? Most are four or longer depending you’re in the honors program or the equivalent. So at the end of 3 years what happened if you were granted an extension of financing you just drop out if you can’t find the funds? And the fact that some paid for every expense just results in the number of students missing out on monies as one student is costing $70k per year!

    Either way the Government really needs to increase their public relations approaches especially since the current popular lie that total scholarship funds have been reduced by almost $800k. You guys really need to start being as vocal an frequent in your rebuttals as is the Opposition is with their constant accusations and allegations.

    • OKAYMAN says:

      Actually nearly all in the UK are 3 years (and Ireland and Scotland).

      • jt says:

        But where do the majority of Bermudian students attend post secondary – far and away in North America.

        • Sickofantz says:

          Well they should consider the UK it would be cheaper.

    • Serengeti says:

      You have to actually read the article.

      According to the article, Bermuda Govt scholarships used to be available for three years. They are now available for four years.

  6. OKAYMAN says:

    By the way I don’t know anywhere in the world where a government pays total tuition.

  7. Alvin Williams says:

    This is an attempt to deflect attention away from the silent sit in and protest on the OBA government policy of cut backs on government-scholarships and awards.
    This is the same government that has given millions of tax payers monies to what is touted to be a private entity to do with tourism; while at the same time refusing to lay out how much is paid to their top CEO at the head of this tourism so-called private entity. You can see the contradiction and how our people have come up short on another anti-Bermudian OBA government policy.

    • Story Teller says:

      How did you feel about Zane Desilva refusing to reveal Dr. Thomas’ (one of those nasty foreigners again) salary despite him being placed on ‘administrative leave’ and also being paid who knows how much by the taxpayer? This was around the time that the PLP patted themselves on the back for negotiating 5% wage cut for the civil service. Anti- Bermudian you say? You zealot partisans are the most anti-Bermudian thing in Bermuda.

      In the end the purported ‘draconian’ cuts of $800k are just another bunch of lies (that even I fell for) while in the end, according to Sen. Rabain, the Opposition’s gripe is the allocation of monies across cost centers. Lies, damned lies and politicians.

    • Mike Hind says:

      Your brain works in insidious ways, doesn’t it?

      There’s a protest about this, so the Government responds and explains itself and, to you, it’s “an attempt to deflect attention”.

      If they hadn’t responded, you’d be denouncing them for ignoring the people of Bermuda.

      When someone can’t win with you, why should they continue to engage?

      • Rajai Denbrook says:

        Respectfully Mike, I feel that their choice to respond does not inherently render the specifics of their response reasonable.

        All the Minister did was describe a process. No misinformation has been disseminated to my mind: I’ve fact-checked the relevant budget briefs and the budget book myself. I believe that it is a legitimately worrying consistent reduction in funds, and I hope that the government acknowledges this relevant anxiety, by disseminating public funds in a way that is consistent with a relevant will of the people.

        • Mike Hind says:

          So…

          there was a protest and the Government responded. Like I said.

          • Rajai Denbrook says:

            No, there IS a protest today, and I was speaking to your choice to single out peoples’ negative responses to the Ministers statements as a damned if you do, damned if you don’t scenario. You just did not say he responded. But, you’re clearly a smart man Mike, you know what I meant.

            • Mike Hind says:

              Based on one post, you might be right.

              Taken as part of a body of work, not so much.

      • Dennis Williams says:

        Mike Hinds…Every time my father makes a comment you come back to answer him in a negative fashion. Why don’t you come with your own comments….you are not even in my father’s league….

        • Mike Hind says:

          You’re absolutely right. I’m not in his league.
          The league that I’m in frowns upon lying and making false, racially biased accusations.
          The league I’m in doesn’t post outright falsehoods.
          The league I’m in has the courage of its convictions and backs up what it says and doesn’t run away with its tail between its legs when proven wrong.

          I’m very proudly not in your father’s league.

  8. Rhonda Neil says:

    The OBS’s attempt to derail the sit in, tomorrow,
    knowing that the truth will take some time to be revealed, then the arguments will be let’s, move on, singing kumbaya

    • Anon says:

      Guess all that money spent on Grand Atlantic, The Olympic pool, would have come in handy right now so these cuts wouldn’t have been needed, Wake up and smell fhe coffee. Look in. The damn mirror and ask yourself how did this all happen?

    • Unbelievable says:

      There is no truth to be revealed. The grants have been reduced.

      Stop trying to make this into some type of conspiracy and making people to be shadowy figures. Where the hell were you when your team was spending the money like it was a running faucet?

    • Mike Hind says:

      I don’t get this rude dismissal – the “singing kumbaya” thing – of actually working together and trying to make Bermuda better.

      • Unbelievable says:

        Rhonda is INCAPABLE, absolutely capable, of questioning her party. She just can’t do it in any form. To her and the many like her, she 100% refuses to believe that the PLP could do any wrong. They weren’t voted out for no reason you know.

        With that kind of mentality, we are really in trouble. You have to question your party. How long will it take for someone like this to realise that????

        • Tough Love says:

          So how many questions do you have for the OBA?

          • Unbelievable says:

            To answer your question, I’ve given a piece of mind a couple of times. If one thing is for sure, is that their supporters do question them. Not all for sure but certainly many do.

            As messy as they are, they allow dissent. Can’t say that for the PLP. Don’t want to appear to be weak now do you?

      • Sickofantz says:

        But seriously the OBA have been a bit disapointing Mike haven’t they? I am an OBA supporter and i am disgusted by this cut in education in the face of their massive overspend and enormous travel budget as well as all these extra staff that Mr Cannonier a minister without portfolio seems to need? I belive that we should be questioning OUR party about this.

        • Terminator says:

          Can you be specific about the massive overspend and enormous travel budget? Bet those figures will be hard to find.

        • Mike Hind says:

          Um… you’re making a lot of assumptions here.

          “OUR party”?

          They’re not MY party. I’m not a member of the OBA.

          I know folks are desperate to label me as such, because it’s easier to dismiss me if I was as rabid as they are, but I’m simply not.

          Not sure why you’re asking me whether they’re disappointing. It has nothing to do with what I said.

  9. swing voter says:

    In how many ways can I say ‘we are broke’…….and broken. No money means underfunded programs. The private scholarships are awarded to the best academic students. The government bursary awards went to students that cleared the 2.0 GPA or better requirement. I would rather see our children assist in financing their own education thru a jobs program, rather than see precious tax dollars being gifted to them for just doing ‘alright’.

    • Lauren Bell says:

      You’ve got your facts wrong

      As per MP Gibbons press release above:-

      Bermuda Government Scholarships: which are valued at up to $35,000 for tuition and accommodation for Bermuda’s top scholars, many of whom in recent years have held a GPA of at least 3.9 and above. This scholarship is tenable for four years.

      Further Education Awards: which are valued at between $1,500 and $10,000 and awarded to students who are in financial need studying at university, and who have a GPA of 2.0 [70%] and above.

    • Bx to BDA says:

      I think this is the one aspect of the conversation that is missing. Why is their such a low hurdle set for students to qualify for a needs based bursary. A 2.0 doesn’t even allow them to compete.

      I undestand the concerns about the governments spending (OBA/PLP)but unrestricted spending on students that are not performing is not the answer. In fact, I would question the criteria for government awards in gerneral. Shouldn’t they be linked to a need or used to encourage participation in a sector of the workforce that is expanding or underrepresented. Shouldn’t they be encouraged to return to the island with their new found skillset to work for the betterment of the country that supported their academic aspirations.

      Maybe a new model is required to support a greater section of the country that wishes to move on to higher education options include:

      - Reduced rate government sponsored educational loans, (Maybe some areas like teaching or other critical need areas can have these loans forgiven in exchange for work for government in that discipline over a number of years.)
      - Summer work study/ internship programs where a portion of money must be set aside to support educational needs.
      - Make all scholarships need based
      - Public private partnerships for funding and investment products that allow awards program to be solvent and self sufficient.

      Suggesting that individuals are fired because you disagree with their politics or who they support does not help the fact that Bermuda is on financially shaky ground and we all must do what we can to ensure that the services that government supplies in support of the economy and the people remains solvent.

      Has the OBA done enough to reign in spending, no. Has the PLP offered resonable alternatives to how to improve the situation, no. Are people sufffering, yes. Is it going to get worse before it gets better, yes. But tough decisions have to be made in the near term to protect the future of all.

  10. clearasmud says:

    People we need to stop being defensive and listen to each other. ther are only 8 scholarships annually ! That annaual budget allocation covers 8 people in their 1st year 8 who are in their second year and 8 who would be in their 3rd year so a max of 24 people. it is NOT need based but is earned by the individuals based on their academic performance. It does not matter if they can afford to pay they earn it. The further education award is primarily NEED based! Because of the economy the number of needy srtudents has increased but the funding has decreased! This does not make sense when we are telling our citisens they need better education to participate in bettering our economy. Yes we are in difficuly times but we need to be making better spending decisions. Our choice is to pay now towards education or pay much more later when we are forced to lock people up for non payment of bills at 80,000 per person! We cannot do any thing about the past but we can do something about the future. The further education scheme has indeed been dramatically reduced and the Minister was intentionally being misleading!

  11. Question says:

    Let me assist so you guys understand a few things – - in practical terms.

    I was a recipient of a Government Further Education Award – - 1991 and 1992. I had to apply each year to receive the award. I had applied to the Government Scholarship, but was unsuccessful. In total, the funds I received was $5,250 over those two years. The rest of my university expenses were paid for by my family, friends, godparents, etc.

    I graduated from high school with a 3.4 GPA, numerous community service awards, performance art awards, etc. – - so to say that the Government bursary awards (incorrect terminology anyway) or “your tax dollars are being gifted to students for just ‘doing alright’” is very disrespectful to me.

    The competition for scholarships in this country is very difficult – - I have been raising my children with the mindset that they will be prepared to compete for scholarships when they graduate from high school. This is the only way they will be ready to deal with it.

    For the record, even with my GPA, I was unable to get a Government Scholarship – - that year, it went to a Saltus Grammar student whose parent could afford to send him to college without assistance – - I know this because I know him and his family. He said that he applied because his parents told him.

    People – the funds provided by government for post secondary education are vitally important and should be returned to respectable levels.

    Q

    • 4.0 says:

      3.4 GPA is not that good, and not deserving of a scholarship over someone who performed better, regardless of financial background. My parents could afford to pay for my post-secondary education, but wanted me to appreciate it, so I applied for scholarships and worked 2 jobs to pay my own way through school. Kids need to learn that they are not entitled to handouts, but must work for what they want.

  12. Bermuda123 says:

    A couple of comments:-

    1. Complaining about travel for Ministers is crazy. If they don’t travel, how can they deliver well the Bermuda message to the markets who need to hear it? If they did NOT travel, we should be concerned.

    2. How about another model? Everywhere in the world, students are starting to have to pay more for education. How about a line of credit from a normal banking relationship which has a Government backstop in certain circumstances? The point of education is to enable the student to earn more once educated. If they earn more, they will be able to contribute to the pay down…

  13. jean foggo simon says:

    Do non bermudian student also receive scholarships?