“Misinformation has been circulating” on Government’s scholarships and awards programme, according to Education and Economic Development Minister Grant Gibbons.

The Minister offered a breakdown of spending in the wake of fresh controversy over the decision to cap scholarship funding.

The previous arrangement of delivering unlimited funding of total tuition up to three years was “unsustainable in the long term”, Dr Gibbons said, with some scholarships costing the public purse more than $70,000.

For the current fiscal year, $1 million has been allocated for scholarships and awards — “a small decrease” from last year’s actual spend of $1.241 million.

Bermuda Government Scholarships are valued up to $35,000 annually, up to four years, toward tuition and accommodation for the Island’s top scholars.

To date this year the Ministry has fielded about 200 applications from 160 applicants, down on 238 applications from 195 prospective candidates last year.

Government’s cap on the previous scholarship regime, which Dr Gibbons said had left scholars seeking alternative funds for their fourth year at university, has resulted in “cost savings that will be fully realised once all Bermuda Government Scholarships recipients from the previous regime complete their studies”.

Current scholarship and award categories were listed as:

• The Teacher Training Awards, valued at $15,000 per year for up to three years, with awardees expected to return to the Island as public school teachers;

• Mature Student Awards, also set for $15,000 for up to three years for candidates over 35 and who wish to return to postsecondary education;

• Further Education Awards, valued between $1,500 and $10,000, for university students in financial need with a GPA of 2.0 and above;

• Bermuda Government Scholarships, valued up to $35,000 for tuition and accommodation, for scholars with a recent GPA of at least 3.9 and above.