The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE Chinese government says its scholarship programme for Bahamians remains under-subscribed even as eight students prepare to leave the country on full scholarships to pursue studies in China.

Ambassador Yan Jiarong urged more Bahamians to apply for the programme, which officials said covers recipients’ studies and accommodation and forms part of a 25-year educational partnership between China and The Bahamas.

The monetary value of the scholarships was not disclosed.

Education Minister Chester Cooper described the awards as a life-changing opportunity and urged the recipients to return home after their studies and use their training to contribute to national development.

Ms Jiarong encouraged the students to immerse themselves in China beyond their academic programmes and said she hoped they would help strengthen relations between the two countries.

She also sought to reassure parents about their children’s safety and welfare while studying overseas, describing China as “one of the safest countries in the world” and saying more than 500,000 international students study there.

“Chinese universities are responsible and very kind to foreign students,” she said. “I believe your children will have a safe, rewarding, and unforgettable time in China.”

The ambassador pointed to brothers Cole and Luca Dorsett as an example of the opportunities available.

She said she met them in 2025 at San Pedro International School after they had taken a gap year following high school.

“The younger brother told me that due to various reasons they have to take a gap year after high school,” she said. “So, after discussion with them, I decided to help them. The embassy got them scholarships to learn Chinese language in Hunan province.”

The brothers have now spent a year in China studying the language.

Among this year’s recipients is 32-year-old medical doctor Sherline Martin, who is expected to attend Fujian Medical University for four years to pursue studies related to plastic surgery and artificial intelligence.

Dr Martin said she discovered the scholarship through Facebook and encouraged others to apply for opportunities they might otherwise overlook.

Teshar Lee Johnson, 32, will return to China to pursue a master’s degree in enterprise management at Zhejiang University after previously completing a bachelor’s degree there.

She urged young Bahamians to seek opportunities outside the country and experience the world directly.

Another recipient, identified as 22-year-old Prince, expects to study public health at Southern Medical University for three years and intends to contribute to public health policy after returning to The Bahamas.