| Scholarship abuses discovered | | Print | |
| Thursday, 07 April 2011 11:40 | |||
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More than a third of students on scholarships were paid more than they were entitled to in their scholarship or bond agreements, according to details released in the 2011-12 budget statement. During a recent review of the administration of scholarship funds, the Ministry of Finance reportedly found “major failings” in the way the scheme was operated, with “serious abuses” dating back many years. “There were several examples of students receiving scholarship benefits in excess of $250,000 when the maximum amounts set out in their agreements were no more than $50,000 to $90,000,” according to the ministry. Abuses included several students who continued to receive scholarship payments for six years or more when the periods stipulated in their agreements ranged from 3-5 years, and some students continued to receive scholarship benefits for some years after they had completed their studies. Almost two thirds of students had been studying, or completed their studies, beyond the scholarship period specified in their agreements. Part of the stipulation for the scholarship is proof of grades. During its review, the ministry uncovered some 82 percent of students had incomplete grade records on file. Grades were also often provided by the students themselves, rather than by their education institutions. The ministry says it is preparing proposals to replace the existing programme with a new scheme that will focus on the “brightest and best” students who would otherwise be unable to access higher education. “This will be accompanied by a wider review of higher education to ensure that best use is made of the educational opportunities provided by the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, and that educational support is more closely tied to the needs of (the government) and the wider TCI economy.”
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