SIXTY-SEVEN young people from the hinterland regions are on the path to self-empowerment after having been awarded scholarships this year, to attend various institutions in and around Georgetown.

Thirteen (13) students are furthering their studies at the Government Technical Institute (GTI); at the Carnegie School Home of Economics (CSHE) – 12; Burrowes School of Art – 4; Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC) – 21; Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) -17. The government is funding these scholarships through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

It was at the recently concluded National Toshaos Council (NTC) that Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Hon. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, explained these scholarships take care of accommodation for the students, meals, transportation and stipend and assistance with materials needed for the school term.

This number of scholarship awardees add to the 49 hinterland students who were granted full scholarships to attend the University of Guyana (UG) in 2018. That initiative followed a collaboration between the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the Public Service Department. An additional number of youths were granted similar scholarships this year to study in the areas of Agriculture, Tourism and Science at UG.

These students will be housed at the recently commissioned $186M Hinterland Student Dormitory located in Liliendaal.

Additionally, through the ministry, over one hundred hinterland students who successfully completed the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) were granted scholarships to attend secondary schools on the coast. The current Hinterland Student Dormitory houses the students who were awarded schools in Georgetown, while those awarded schools in their regions are housed in the schools’ dormitories.

(DPI)