More than 150 students get tertiary level Govt of Jamaica scholarships

The Government of Jamaica has provided scholarships to 158 students under the third year of a $1.2B Tertiary Student Funding Initiative primarily aimed at increasing the number of math, science and TVET teachers in the education system. For the 2018 /2019 academic year however other subjects have been included as follows:

- 69 Mathematics

- 40 Sciences

- 1 Language & Literacy

- 18 Engineering and

- 30 other TVET areas

Priority was given to students from lower socio-economic background and some students whose parents are employed to the government of Jamaica.

Requirements

They are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA and participate in community services within children homes, hospitals churches and other service organisations

Financial assistance is also being awarded to 668 students who are having challenges paying their fees. These students are sponsored in various areas such as nursing, primary education, dentistry and law programmes.

In addition, the Centre of Occupational Studies, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, has offered scholarships to just over 2000 students pursuing Occupational Associate Degrees in 18 tertiary institutions in 17 industry-driven programmes. An occupational degree student will not only graduate with and an occupational degree but with international stackable credentials specific for the industry to which their programmes are aligned.

Speaking at the scholarship and grants awards ceremony on October 4, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Ruel Reid noted that the programme was developed and implemented as part of the MoEYI's strategic approach to increase the number of fully-qualified math and science teachers available for deployment to the education system. The first set of students is scheduled to graduate in 2019.

"As part of the Ministry's overall strategic plans we are committed to the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) within the education system. This is being used as the fundamental base for the implementation of a new curriculum," Reid said.