The ELAP/Canada-CARICOM Scholarships which are presented by the Canadian Bureau of International Education to select students of the Barbados Community College (BCC), facilitate some ???cross fertilisation??? has been deemed as ???very important to the development of young people from both Barbados and Canada???.
This is the view of Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, who said the annual initiative ???enhances the relationship between Canada and Barbados at the level of education???.
The Minister was at the time addressing a presentation ceremony at the BCC for 18 students, drawn from the Fine Arts Division and the Hospitality Institute, who will shortly journey to Canada to commence their studies at St. Lawrence College, Canadore College, and Lampton College.
Minister Jones pointed out that the awards were made possible through ???a sacrifice on behalf of the citizens of Canada???, in an effort to provide CARICOM citizens with an opportunity to benefit from tertiary education in that country.
He, therefore, urged the students to ???do well???, and noted that much was expected of them. ???Sometimes, the bright lights of a strange place can mesmerise you and cause you to lose focus, but be grounded in the virtues and the principles taught by our fore parents,??? the Education Minister stressed.
Meanwhile, Canadian High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, His Excellency Richard Hanley, affirmed Canada???s support to ???the next generation of Barbadian leaders???, and explained that the ongoing scholarship programme was designed to enhance the skill sets required to advance the development and sustainability of CARICOM countries, while strengthening the linkages between post-secondary institutions in Canada and across the region.
He implored the students to enjoy the experience and underscored that ???Canada will be a better place for having [them] study there.???
The scholarships, which range in duration from one semester to one year, will be offered in the areas of Fine Arts, Culinary Management, and Hospitality and Tourism Management.
sharifa.medford@barbados.gov.bb