Cash for school now available on-line

(CNS): Students applying for scholarship for further education can now apply for that money online. The Ministry of Education’s Scholarship Secretariat has unveiled their new online service for applications, which it hopes will streamline and speed up the process. The Education Council Scholarships Online Programme launched this month will allow applicants to apply for all scholarships available from the Education Council and to track the progress of their application. With so many applications for scholarships, the ministry said there was a need to find a way to make the application process more efficient.

“Applications are often incomplete and the required documents are not always handed in together,” said Deirdre Seymour, Manager of the Scholarship Secretariat. “Keeping track of the various documents can be an administrative nightmare and has occasionally led to frustrated applicants. The new programme will go a long way to improving the screening of applications and will enable applicants to know what stage their application is at.  It should also result in a reduction in the traffic of applicants collecting and dropping off forms at the ministry offices.”

Applicants will also be able to choose what type of scholarship they are applying for. On the new Scholarship Secretariat site there is a range of various local and overseas tertiary scholarships that are available from the Education Council, including the RBC Harry Chisholm Scholarship, the Gwen Bush Memorial Scholarship, the MACI (Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands) Scholarship, as well as the standard overseas and local scholarships.

The new online programme requires scholarship applicants to create a unique username and password and then work their way through the online application process.  The programme allows applicants to upload any required supporting documentation with the use of a scanner from the privacy of their home, office or at an internet café.  Another benefit of the Programme is its flexibility. 

At any time during the process and prior to the submission deadline, the user can exit the programme and later return to the last point of access, finish the application or upload relevant documentation.

Applicants can access the online programme at here or by visiting the education ministry website, selecting the “Education” tab, then clicking on Scholarships.  Additional information about the various scholarships is also available on the website.  Special attention should be given to the academic requirements for each type of scholarship as well as the supporting documentation required as these may differ.

The application period for overseas applications is 1 Jan – 31 March annually.

The application period for local scholarships is 1 April – 30 June annually.