( L - R ) Shari Tucker,   Ankita Kulkarni,   Dayne Ashman  

     
( L - R ) Daynea Bowes,   Robert Ffrench,   Kamille Adair,   Stephen Johnson

Seven students who gave outstanding performances in the GCE 'A' Level/CAPE examinations, were recently awarded the 2006-2007 Annual Jamaica Scholarship offered by the Ministry of Education and Youth.

According to the Education Ministry, the award is timely as Youth Month is being celebrated in November under the theme 'Aspire Today, Inspire Tomorrow'.

The students, who are from high schools in the parishes of Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine, are:

Dayne Ashman, Kingston College, Jamaica Scholarship; Kamille Adair, Ardenne High School, Jamaica Scholarship; Ankita Kulkarni, Campion College, Jamaica Independence Open; Daynea Bowes, St. Andrew High School, Jamaica Independence; Robert Ffrench, Campion College, Jamaica Independence; Shari Tucker, Immaculate Conception High School, Jamaica Adult Suffrage Open; and Stephen Johnson, Old Harbour High School, Jamaica Centenary.

UWI students

All the students are currently pursuing tertiary studies at the University of the West Indies. Ashman, Kulkarni and Tucker are pursuing medicine; Adair is studying law, while Bowes is pursuing Special Education. Both Ffrench and Johnson are studying Pure and Applied Sciences and International Relations respectively.

Each year, before the sitting of the GCE 'A' Level and CAPE examinations, the Tertiary Unit of the ministry sends applications to high schools and community colleges islandwide for students to apply to the various scholarships. Upon receipt of the applications, a list with the names of the applicants is then sent to the University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate, England, and the Caribbean Examination Council, Barbados.

When the results are ready the list is sent to the ministry, with the results of each student's performance in the examination. The final choice for the scholarships is made based on the calculation of standard scores in both exams from the syndicate and the council.

All scholarships cover the tuition fees, a maintenance allowance of $60,000, and a book allowance of $15,000. Students who have obtained the scholarship cannot change their course of study without prior approval from the ministry, and may not hold another scholarship or award, without permission from the ministry. Continuation of the award is subject to satisfactory performance of the student in his or her area of study.

All awardees are bonded to work with the Jamaican Government or any local organisation approved by the ministry for a period stipulated by the Cabinet Office.