last year, Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons disclosed yesterday.

A total of 508 students have applied for some of the $1.4 million allocated in the education budget for Bermudians studying abroad, compared with 463 last year.

"Each year the number seems to go up,'' Mr. Simons said. "And with the recessionary conditions, this is expected.'' Government awards up to eight $10,000 scholarships annually to students based on their academic performance. But the bulk of its financial assistance goes to students in need of further education awards and interest free student loans.

Last year Government paid out some $1.3 million to 233 people studying abroad.

But parents complained that Government was awarding scholarships and other financial assistance to children who were not in need. And they claimed that their taxpayer dollars were being misspent and their children cheated, particularly in the midst of a recession.

The Ministry promised to review its policy and screen applications more closely.

And yesterday Mr. Simons said as a result of this 50 of the 508 applicants have already been denied aid because they did not meet the awards criteria.

He said the Ministry has also temporarily taken staff from other areas of the Education Department to help the scholarships and awards committee process the applications faster.

In addition to this, the Ministry has revised the application forms to: Clarify that a dependent is one who lives at home with parents, is under 25, and not married; Note that it will award interest free loans instead of further education awards to post graduate students. And it has computerised its records of students receiving financial assistance.

Mr. Simons said the entire reviewing of applications and granting of awards should be completed by August.