TCI: More money for scholarships, more scholarship awardees support tertiary education growth

#Providenciales, October 28, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – There is a significantly greater chance today, than in years gone by that graduates from high school and the community college could complete higher level studies, according to the Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Education, MoE.

In pursuit of accomplishing the Strategic Imperative No. 8 of the TCI Education Sector Plan – Improve provision for Tertiary and Continuing Education – there have been marked changes aimed at demonstrating the MoE’s commitment to more professionally qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders.

The scholarship award budget was increased by a sizable 55 percent to date from the Education Sector plan’s 2014/15 baseline. Also increased is the number of institutions approved for continuing and tertiary education for which scholarships will be awarded. This has increased from 24 in 2011 to 50 in 2017 which is excellent news for the over 350 high school and local college graduates from the Class of 2019.

Another profound leap for the Ministry of Education is the broadening of priority areas for higher learning scholarships. Influenced in part by the 2017 National Skills Audit, the priority areas of study promoted by the Ministry of Education have mushroomed from 23 areas in 2011, to 82 areas in 2018.

With the addition of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus in Providenciales and the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association’s Business Training Unit; opportunities at home are more diversified, affordable and of highest quality. UWI is ranked among the top five percent of the world’s best universities, according to Times Higher Education and continues to be the No. 1 ranked university in the Caribbean. 

The Turks and Caicos Islands Community College is also increasing its offerings as interest among older learners is growing fast.

The Ministry of Education’s Scholarship Secretariat Unit intends to include additional approved institutions.  The opportunities for adults to engage in continuing and further education has increased and TCICCs curriculum offer has broadened to include four new courses at the Associate’s Degree level and one at the Bachelor’s Degree Level. The Ministry of Education, in successfully activating Strategic Imperative No. 8 will find that more tertiary candidates are accommodated and the TCI workforce will be augmented and populated with more professionals holding quality certifications or degrees.

“Improving the Education System in the TCI…..Together we can do it”

Header: Briann Gardiner, National Scholar and Top CXC student from Raymond Gardiner High School and Ministry of Education scholarship recipient smiles for the cameras at the National Awards ceremony held this past summer in North Caicos.  Also pictured, Hon Karen Malcolm, Minister of Education, Youth, Culture, Social & Library Services.