Students with financial difficulties can take advantage of more accessible scholarships, education minister Diallo Rabain told the House of Assembly.

Mr Rabain gave details on the following award programmes he said would help create a more “diverse Bermuda”:

• The new Minister’s Applied Technology Scholarship, for graduating public school dual-enrolment students in Bermuda College’s Applied Technical Programme. Valued at $5,000 each, these scholarships will fund students to complete their Associate’s Degree at the Bermuda College once they have graduated from senior school.

• The renamed Non-Traditional Student Award will focus on people who have little or no college or university experience. The requirement for sophomore standing was eliminated, allowing persons without any college or university credit to apply. Also, the age eligibility was lowered from 35 to 25 years old, and applications for online study at accredited institutions are now being accepted.

• The Further Education Award will now fund students with at least one year of college or university credits. Previously, applicants were required to have sophomore standing. This will now help support students who need financial assistance for their second year of college or university, in addition to those in their third or fourth year of study.

• The range for the Minister’s Exceptional Student Award has been expanded up to the age of 25.

• The new Minister’s Bermuda College Book Award. Valued at $500, this will help provide books to students in financial need so that they have these important resources to support their studies.

Details are available at Bermudascholarships.com and on moed.bm.

The Ministry of Education has extended its deadline for submitting applications for scholarships and awards to April 5.

Mr Rabain said: “Despite these important changes to our scholarships and awards, to help support more and more Bermudians, the Ministry of Education is acutely aware that the need exceeds the supply.

“We will therefore continue to review our approach to scholarships with an eye to not only improving what we do, but developing more and more opportunities to bring postsecondary education within reach of all Bermudians.”

• To read Diallo Rabain’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”