Ministry’s Scholarship And Awards Highlighted

Minister of Education and Workforce Development Diallo Rabain offered an update in the House of Assembly today [March 16] on the Ministry of Education’s Scholarship and Awards offerings, saying that he is “heartened by the community response to our commitment to fund scholarships and awards for a diverse Bermuda.”

Minster Rabain said, “The Ministry was intent on introducing new scholarships and making them more accessible to a greater number of people.

“We have therefore continued to expand opportunities for post-secondary education and training to help support Bermudians of all ages and various backgrounds and career interests. Through these investments in Bermuda’s social and economic capital, we are demonstrating that we value promise, growth, achievement, as well as diverse interests, careers, and abilities.

“The new Minister’s Applied Technology Scholarship is for graduating public school dual-enrolment students in Bermuda College’s Applied Technical Programme. Valued at $5,000 each, these scholarships will fund students to complete their Associate’s Degree at the Bermuda College once they have graduated from senior school.

“We transformed the Mature Student Award into the Non-Traditional Student Award to focus on persons who have little or no college or university experience. The requirement for sophomore standing was eliminated, allowing persons without any college or university credit to apply. Also, the age eligibility was lowered from 35 to 25 years old, and applications for online study at accredited institutions are now being accepted.

“We have also changed the Further Education Award, which will now fund students with at least one year of college or university credits. Previously, applicants were required to have sophomore standing. This will now help support students who need financial assistance for their second year of college or university, in addition to those in their third or fourth year of study.

“We continue to recognize students with disabilities, many of whom have opportunities to attend post-secondary education, but have fewer opportunities for scholarships. In response to parent and community requests, we have expanded the age range for the Minister’s Exceptional Student Award, allowing persons up to the age of 25 to apply. We are conducting outreach with Bermuda College, senior schools and non-profits, and hope that all eligible students apply. This award is available for the full range of disabilities. Questions regarding eligibility can be put directly to the Ministry.

“Finally, Mr. Speaker, we introduced the Minister’s Bermuda College Book Award. Valued at $500, this will help provide books to students in financial need so that they have these important resources to support their studies.”

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

Mr. Speaker,

I am pleased to provide this Honourable House with an update on the Ministry of Education’s Scholarship and Awards offerings. Let me first say that I am heartened by the community response to our commitment to fund scholarships and awards for a diverse Bermuda. The Ministry was intent on introducing new scholarships and making them more accessible to a greater number of people.

We have therefore continued to expand opportunities for post-secondary education and training to help support Bermudians of all ages and various backgrounds and career interests. Through these investments in Bermuda’s social and economic capital, we are demonstrating that we value promise, growth, achievement, as well as diverse interests, careers, and abilities.

Mr. Speaker,

I will now highlight our newest offerings and some of the changes that have been recently introduced.

The new Minister’s Applied Technology Scholarship is for graduating public school dual-enrolment students in Bermuda College’s Applied Technical Programme. Valued at $5,000 each, these scholarships will fund students to complete their Associate’s Degree at the Bermuda College once they have graduated from senior school.

We transformed the Mature Student Award into the Non-Traditional Student Award to focus on persons who have little or no college or university experience. The requirement for sophomore standing was eliminated, allowing persons without any college or university credit to apply. Also, the age eligibility was lowered from 35 to 25 years old, and applications for online study at accredited institutions are now being accepted.

We have also changed the Further Education Award, which will now fund students with at least one year of college or university credits. Previously, applicants were required to have sophomore standing. This will now help support students who need financial assistance for their second year of college or university, in addition to those in their third or fourth year of study.

We continue to recognize students with disabilities, many of whom have opportunities to attend post-secondary education, but have fewer opportunities for scholarships. In response to parent and community requests, we have expanded the age range for the Minister’s Exceptional Student Award, allowing persons up to the age of 25 to apply. We are conducting outreach with Bermuda College, senior schools and non-profits, and hope that all eligible students apply. This award is available for the full range of disabilities. Questions regarding eligibility can be put directly to the Ministry.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we introduced the Minister’s Bermuda College Book Award. Valued at $500, this will help provide books to students in financial need so that they have these important resources to support their studies.

Detailed information on each of these scholarships and awards, as well as the:

• Minister’s Achievement Scholarship
• Bermuda Government Scholarship
• Teacher Education Scholarship, and
• Minister’s Technical and Vocational Award,

Are all available on Bermudascholarships.com and on moed.bm.

Mr. Speaker,

I’d like to remind the House that the Ministry of Education has extended its deadline for submitting applications for scholarships and awards to April 5th, 2018. I encourage eligible applicants to avail themselves of this time to consider and apply for our scholarships.

I hope those pursuing post-secondary education are aware that more and more scholarship opportunities exist for a greater range of people. I therefore encourage parents, students, and other interested persons to review all of our scholarship opportunities and the many other scholarships available on Bermudascholarships.com.

Mr. Speaker,

Despite these important changes to our scholarships and awards, to help support more and more Bermudians, the Ministry of Education is acutely aware that the need exceeds the supply. We will therefore continue to review our approach to scholarships with an eye to not only improving what we do, but developing more and more opportunities to bring post-secondary education within reach of all Bermudians.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

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