$100k/year scholarships on offer for top students

| 08/12/2022 | 41 Comments

(CNS): Two government students, one male and one female, who graduate with top grades in ten subjects and have been accepted into one of the world’s most prestigious universities will be sent on their way with a new generous scholarship launched by the Ministry of Education (MoE). The Government High Schools Scholar Award, which is worth up to CI$100,000 per year to pay for tuition, will be awarded to the two most outstanding Caymanian students of their year. Eligible candidates must have graduated from a government high school with a minimum of ten A grades or equivalent.

Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said the new scholarship would increase access to the highest quality education for government school graduates who show academic promise. “And I hope this scholarship will likewise incentivise government school pupils to exert greater effort to excel academically and, by so doing, ultimately raise the profile of our public schools,” she said.

Students don’t have to apply as the scholarships will be awarded to the two most outstanding graduates from those who meet the criteria. The first scholars will be announced in January 2023.

Candidates must be Caymanian and have attended a government high school in the Cayman Islands for at least four consecutive years. They must have achieved the top academic performer award in their graduating year with a minimum of ten cumulative Level 2 passes, all with an A, 1 or distinction grades.

Students must also have sat all external examinations from within the public high school where they were enrolled and be accepted at a highly competitive university as listed on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 100 Top Universities for the current academic year.


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Category: Education, Local News

Comments (41)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    CIG hires experts from overseas in every sector of government work.

    Sponsoring local talents must be tailored to the local need of CRITICAL for Cayman economy specialists. The contracts must stipulate that graduates return to Cayman and are obligated to work certain number of years in Cayman benefiting Cayman economy.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Another example of apartheid Cayman style.

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  3. Peter says:

    Better ensure they come back to contribute to the Cayman “culture/economy”. If they are any good they may get hired in a “more desirable” place.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    The recipient should also have to prove Caymanian born of Caymanian born parents Everything Govt puts in place always seems to benefit some other nationality with a piece of paper

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    • anon against ignorance says:

      10.49pm Go shred your British Passport (aka “a piece of paper”.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Not true. I am a born generational Caymanian who received ~70k CI total in scholarships. I’ve served as a civil servant for 5+ years now.

      Just being fair here.

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    • Patsy says:

      That’s not very inclusive. I feel sorry for you being that angry against other nationalities that provide so much to this lovely island!

  5. Anonymous says:

    This is a fabulous idea and finally able students will be able to attend top notch universities, many of which are in the US.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Isn’t it fun giving away other people’s money JUJU? It’s almost like it grows on trees. Please tell us where the money trees are so we can enjoy the fruit too.

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    • Hubert says:

      Here is a better idea. Offer Caymanians trade scholarships so they can have building careers.

      Works effectively in Canada.

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      • Anonymous says:

        How many trade scholarships could you fund for $200k. Quite a few, and I think there would be a lot more candidates. The list of requirements for this is pretty steep – almost if they had someone in mind 😉

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  7. Anonymous says:

    If your parents can afford the fees at Prep, CIS, St Ignatius, not sure they need the scholarship.

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  8. No see um says:

    So how many civil servants have degrees from the QS top 100 universities?.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    More discrimination!!!!! A Caymankind way of life.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    means tested???….of course not…..zzzzzzzzzzzzz

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Trying to avoid stereotyping but observing what typically happens here, kids going to Govt schools would usually be from a lesser income family, a top honoured student therefore would unlikely be looking at placement in a top 100 University before any scholarship funding . Ministry of Education, you can do better.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Check the high honors graduates from each public school each year, there are a few

    • Anonymous says:

      Why does this even have likes.. surely the point of the scholarship is to allow those that could not normally afford it to aim for such universities. Do you think they should just aim for some low tier universities because their families are not wealthy?

  12. Anonymous says:

    What’s sad is that it takes $100,000 a year to educate.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If they are Caymanian they will have entitlement to UK citizenship and thus access to UK universities where the annual fees are capped at under $10k a year. That level of annual cost is associated with the top schools in the US.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    school also needs the Bible and dedicated teachers,it worked just fine,of course not everyone is perfect that the school children knows in England

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  14. Anonymous says:

    This is discrimination against those Caymanian students who attend private schools and will be challenged in court.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Are students able to be accepted into university right from high school graduation? I don’t think Government offers A-Levels, so most Caymanian students who wish to attend university end up having to attend private schools for A-Levels, thereby disqualifying them for this scholarship.

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      • Anonymous says:

        JuJu trying to look clever & has shot herself in the foot?

      • Anonymous says:

        The way I read it, if they went to government school up until a levels or IB they are still covered as it’s 4 years consecutive government school attendance.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Why not scholarships for 2 year trade schools? We need Caymanian trades people.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Actually A level is British.

        A local caymanaian here can sit the SAT test which is the American standard scoring system. It is more of a fair test (than grades)

        I’m glad Govt school is helping two top kids, but that really is not going to solve a bigger problem across the community. Money better spent on vocational programs.

        Also, a real shame not to start at the beginning. Families don’t stand a chance without early childhood education and our system doesn’t start until 5??

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    • Anonymous says:

      No, no it really isn’t.

      the government school system now offers a $100k scholarship for excellent students that attend gov schools.

      simple, clear eligibility criteria.

      if you choose to put your children into a different education system outside the government system, your child isn’t eligible for state aid. Just like they can’t attend classes at Clifton Hunter, or eat at the canteen in John Gray.

      it’s not hard to understand

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    • Anonymous says:

      People that are better off are always the loudest about not getting every piece of the pie.

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