Almost 900 students have received financial aid to attend the Bermuda College since the start of a $300,000 annual grant in 2017, MPs were told today.

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Ministerial Statement - Education Minister Diallo Rabain.pdf

And another 100 students have received financial support as a result of private donations made in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, said the annual grant specifically for needy students had been “even more meaningful” as a result of the pandemic’s economic impact.

Mr Rabain told the House of Assembly that this semester 71 students received financial assistance from the tuition grant, which comprised 44 students in the academic divisions and 27 students in Professional and Career Education (Pace).

Annual awards ranged from $325.50 to $5,160. The highest amounts were for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration degree programme offered in partnership with Mount Saint Vincent University, and the teacher certification programme offered by the University of West Indies.

Mr Rabain said 871 awards have been granted to Bermuda College students since 2017.

Mr Rabain also praised donors to the Bermuda College who had given an additional $325,000 has been raised to date to support Bermuda College students in need, assisting a further 104 students this year. The funds were raised in response to the pandemic.

Mr Rabain also reported that a total of 70 College Promise scholarships had been awarded in the last two years.

This merit award gives public high school graduates free tuition at Bermuda College provided they have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0, test into College-level courses, are recommended by a school counsellor and are Bermudian. Successful students must attend Bermuda College in the Fall or Spring semester immediately after their high school graduation.

Mr Rabain said 47 College Promise awards were made this year while 23 out of the 26 students in last year’s group of scholars returned for a second year.

Mr Rabain’s full statement is in Related Media