The Tribune

THE 2012 National Scholarship Programme has been modified to address national goals, according to the government.

Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald said that, this year, students would be chosen for scholarships according to their intention to pursue “areas of study that are of importance for national development of our country” and in line with the policies outlined in the PLP’s Charter for Governance.

He said in addition to this stipulation, the National Scholarship Committee was asked to observe several criteria, among them that selections must:

• be fair and objective

• be based on academic performance

• take into account the financial need of the applicant

• give priority to those wishing to pursue tertiary education at the College of The Bahamas, other local tertiary institutions, and accredited institutions in the region.

Mr Fitzgerald expressed appreciation to all persons who submitted applications.

The Scholarship and Educational Loan Division received more than 1,600 applications this year. Unfortunately, he said, due primarily to budget constraint reasons and persons failing to meet qualification standards, it was impossible to award scholarships to all that applied.

The National Scholarship Committee selected 350 people to receive scholarships.