From the Office of the Premier

Update on Young Nation Builders Scholarship Programme [YNBSP}

An internal audit by the Ministry of Education revealed that the amount of the YNBSP scholarship awards varied widely.  Most of the current students were receiving CI$25,000 or less, in line with the maximum scholarship award allowed under the scholarship provisions of the Education Council.  However, 17 students were receiving between CI$27,000 and CI$63,000. These included two (2) high school scholarship recipients, whose annual scholarship grant was as follows:

• $69,590 USD (CI$58,455.60) – 2 years

• $71,810 USD (CI$60,320.40) – 4 years

One tertiary scholarship recipient received CI$63,000 per annum.

The audit also revealed that twenty-five (25) YNBSP recipients are also receiving an Education Council Scholarship.  Nine (9) YNBSP recipients are receiving a Ministry of Tourism scholarship.  At least two (2) recipients are receiving funds from YNBSP, the Education Council and the Ministry of Tourism.

The Ministry’s audit has identified that, under the YNBSP, for the 2012/13 academic year, there were 116 scholarship recipients, receiving funding of around $2.25 million per year. They ranged from high school students to people involved in post-graduate degree programmes. The breakdown is as follows:

•  High School-12
•  Pre-College-1
• Associates-7
• Bachelors-80
•  Masters-12
• Pilot certificates-1
• Legal Practice Course-1
• Independent Sports Contract (to support training for the Olympics)-2

Of the 116 YNBSP recipients, 12 sports-related high school scholarships had been awarded at a cost to Government of CI$306,754 (US$365,285) per year.

The purported primary purpose of these scholarships appeared to be to further the athletic skills of the high school students. However, the Ministry of Sports was not involved in setting any sports related standards or goals to be achieved.

Two YNBSP recipients received a three-year commitment of CI$28,000 per annum from 1 April, 2013, to support their track and field training, reportedly in preparation for the 2016 Olympics.  Again, there was no involvement of the Ministry of Sports in awarding or administering this grant. Because there was no educational or scholarship component, administration of that financial aid has been handed over to the Ministry of Sports.

The Progressives Government has informed students receiving funding from the YNBSP that their funding will come in line with Education Council Scholarship funding and has invited them to give their views on the changes in writing to Cabinet.

It is Government’s intention to level the playing field and establish proper and transparent criteria that will be applied to all scholarship applicants and recipients.