More than 180 Bermuda College students will get financial support from the $300,000 grant provided by the Government.

Education minister Diallo Rabain said the cash would help 183 students, including those on academic courses, Professional and Career Education (Pace) programmes and undertaking bachelor degrees.

He added that the number of students who came forward and qualified for the maximum award underlined the need for a living wage in Bermuda.

Some 197 people applied for a grant within nine days of the press conference at which it was announced, Mr Rabain told the House of Assembly today.

He said the financial awards granted ranged from 30 per cent to 80 per cent of a student’s educational costs.

In total, about $193,000 has been expensed to date from the $300,000 grant to the Bermuda College, with the remainder earmarked to help students with their tuition in the 2018 Spring semester.

Mr Rabain said a large percentage of students qualified for the maximum award of 80 per cent of their total educational costs.

He said: “This stemmed from the fact that the student’s annual household income was less than $51,012, which represents 50 per cent of the 2013 median household income in Bermuda, and which is also the widely used definition of poverty.

“This is significant and underscores the need for the establishment of a living wage in Bermuda; and it underscores this Government’s position to have a better and fairer Bermuda for Bermudians. “As such, we will continue the provision of all available resources as needed, to ensure access to higher education and access to job training courses at the Bermuda College for all Bermudians.”

• To read Mr Rabain’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”