Senators yesterday passed legislation to increase scholarship payments to students pursuing higher education both at home and abroad.

The Bermuda Government Scholarships Act 2008 was welcomed by all parties, with Opposition Senators even calling for it to be "beefed up" with additional funds.

The Act will provide funding for eight top achieving students at an overseas university for three years or a Bermuda College programme offered by an overseas university.

The legislation, which updates the Scholarship Act 1958, will cover tuition fees, accommodation costs and airfare. It is estimated the total cost per year per student will be around $25,000. Government Senator Walton Brown said the Act aimed to "ensure we provide Bermudians with access to higher education both at Bermuda College and overseas".

He said Government had provided "considerable sums" in scholarships in the past five years — up to $8 million to 1,100 Bermudians.

As well as the Bermuda Government Scholarships, taxpayers have also funded the Further Education, Teacher Training and Mature Student awards, plus interest-free loans to students. "In the spirit of empowerment we wish to give the opportunity to those seeking higher education or to retrain," said Sen. Brown.

Opposition Senator Charlie Swan said: "We support this new Act — the original Act is over 50 years old and much has changed in the interim in terms of Bermuda's needs and development. We have two pillars of the economy now which both require talented people in large numbers.

"We think this new Act could perhaps be beefed up even more than it is," he said. "I believe the $8 million over the past five years represents $1.6 million a year — a minimal amount of the Education budget. Given the cost of a college education overseas I would imagine there would be increasing number of applicants, and so we believe Government could make more money available.

"We believe education is the key to economic empowerment. There's now I believe, eight of these scholarships awarded each year. If we are serious, we need to offer a greater amount of money and offer it to more people."

In addition to funding for tuition fees, accommodation and return airfare, Sen. Swan called on Government "to consider additional items, such as the cost of books".

"I'd like to see it made more effective and available to more of our people," he said.

Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes said: "Education is extremely expensive now and at some of the best universities, it's not unusual to pay $30-40,000 a year, so this is much more of a burden on the student than it once was.

"This is a great step forward. It will bring us back to top standard and I think it's excellent what's being done."

Opposition Senate Leader Michael Dunkley called for more public information on the scholarships available to students.

"In the past ten to 15 years, without higher education you do reach that glass ceiling very quickly," he said. "I would say not only make this available to the brightest and best but to all students in Bermuda wanting to go forward to higher education.

"There are many scholarship opportunities offered throughout the Island but our young people do not always know how to access them."

Sen. Brown said a Bank of Butterfield publication detailing the scholarships was available to students, but admitted "some scholarships go unawarded each year".

"Perhaps some greater effort needs to be made by those seeking funding to find out what is available," he said.