Controversial changes to Government scholarships became the subject of an online debate between former Education Minister Nalton Brangman and PLP Senator Diallo Rabain.

Responding to a post on the One Bermuda Alliance Facebook page this weekend, Sen Brangman said the capping of Government scholarships to $35,000 would allow more Bermudian students to benefit.

The original post by Lynne Winfield questioned the OBA’s dedication to education following the capping of scholarships and the reported phasing out of student tuition discounts at Bermuda College.

“The OBA capped the Bermuda Government Scholarship because there would be no money for anyone this year,” Sen Brangman said. “In two years time as the last of the old system leave the scholarship there will be greater funds in the system for more children.”

He said that, with the $35,000 cap in effect, eight students will received funding for their university education for less than $300,000.

“If we use the former system used by the PLP, the cap before 2008 meant eight children consumed only $200,000 per year,” he wrote. “After 2008 the amount for the scholarship climbed from $200,000 by five times for the same eight students. As we now have the last of the old system graduating we will be able to grant more for students without exploding the cost to the tax payer.

“As we lower that cost we will have more funds to help more students in need. There is no need for a silent protest on cutting student funds. There is a need for a loud protest as to why the cost was expanded beyond the point that is sustainable. Without action there would only be one Government Scholarship this year. Guess we would have a lot of noise then. The Government is nearly $2 billion in debt and we cannot be reckless in how we spend the tax payers money.

“Contrary to the hype, the OBA is and will do more to provide funding for Bermudian students.”

Sen Brangman also said that for the first time in 20 years, the Ministry of Education did not require supplemental funds this year because of his budgeting, and noted initiatives aimed to help those who most need assistance.

“We have inherited a system badly managed with no vision or plan to improve student achievement or system improvement,” he said. “Those plans are now in motion. Those with the greatest need are now finally being addressed. More money is being spent on students with special needs, Braille, hearing, and the list goes on.

“The system has pushed these students and their families to the side for too long and we cannot fix everything while bringing fiscal responsibility to the system.”

Sen Rabain however responded that the OBA was following the same system put in place by Dame Jennifer Smith while she was in the office of Education Minister.

“The special reading programme for hearing-impaired and blind using Braille was in pilot mode at Prospect Primary in 2012,” Sen Rabain wrote. “The autism programme was at West Pembroke since 2011 and was in the process of expanding.

“The career pathways was started and underway at Berkeley and Cedarbridge, despite Dr Heatley claiming to have ‘started it’ in his short six months. The Mirrors programme was at Whitney and Sandys and was looking to expand to Clearwater (now only at Sandys for 2014/15 due to budget cuts)”

He also refuted the claim that the Ministry had stayed within budget for the first time in 20 years, stating that since 1998 the ministry was only over budget on five occasions (2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06, 2008/09 and 2011/12).

And he disputed the suggestion that the PLP had spent $1 million for eight students in 2008, explaining: “The cost centre for Government Scholarships covers the scholarships, Further Education Awards, Mature Student Awards, Teacher Training Awards and Student Loan Guarantee Programme, not only the eight students that were on Bermuda Scholarships.

“That $1 million assisted hundreds of students, not just eight. In addition I will proudly say that over $2 million was spent on students trying to better themselves in 2012.”

Sen Brangman responded that the report of the $1 million reflected the money spent in the budget before the OBA was elected, and that he had repeatedly given credit to the PLP for “pointing in the right direction.”

“That does not mean that the many issues within Education were solved,” he added. “We said we would bring better order and indeed it is being administered. We have invested more into education for the very areas you claim credit for. I am interested in addressing why fiscal discipline was required, and how we will bring a better financial plan to help more students.”