Govt hands out 450 scholarships for UG and GSA

Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Public Service has handed out some four hundred and fifty full scholarships for students to attend the University of Guyana and the Guyana School of Agriculture to advance their education.
The scholarships include payment for courses and stipends, which eases the burden of students being required to work whilst studying. However, recipients are expected to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.8 during the course of their study at their respective institution. ‘
At the orientation ceremony held at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), Turkeyen, Advisor to the Education Minister, Vincent Alexander, urged the students to take full advantage of the opportunity being presented to them, while reminding them that certification and acquiring good jobs are just part of learning.
“Education is a process of being able to assess your environment and to apply your skills and knowledge for navigating the environment; being able to recognise challenges and to confront them successfully,” he explained.
Additionally, Alexander told the students that the citizens of Guyana are investing in the education of these scholarship recipients for the development of the country, and he encouraged them to make effective use of the knowledge they would receive.
Permanent Secretary of the Department of Public Service, Reginald Brotherson, called upon the students to “look forward to what you can do for your country through the education that you will receive. Your training could create the jobs that are necessary that many others could also benefit. So we are looking at education in a transformative situation.”
The scholarships, he said, indicate Government’s commitment to education, national development, and to creating a bright and prosperous nation.
The Permanent Secretary noted that scholarships incur a cost to the State, but he said Government is committed to investing in education and training because it is convinced of the transformative power of education.
Last year, the Ministry awarded about 310 scholarships, although only a small percentage of those recipients pursued studies at the GSA.
The Ministry also offers grants to students pursuing studies at the Carnegie School of Home Economics and The Burrowes School of Art, among other institutions.