FREE TUITION AT BAMSI TO START FALL 2020
Free tuition for full-time Bahamian students at The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) will begin in the Fall 2020 semester, the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Michael Pintard announced during his contribution to the 2020/2021 budget debate in the House of Assembly.
“BAMSI is now able to offer to its incoming students the identical arrangements made available to UB and BTVI students in free tuition” he said. Students will have to register for full time credits and maintain a minimum GPA to retain their grant.
Minister Pintard said, “The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute will continue to produce outstanding graduates in Agriculture, Marine and Life Sciences, to conduct important studies that will assist farmers in making decisions based on science and that new and badly needed courses are being offered unilaterally or in partnership with our educational institutions internationally or NGOs and private entities.”
This national tertiary education grant provides a crucial bridge for Bahamians who want to obtain a college degree, particularly during this time of the rebuilding and diversification of the Bahamian economy. This further solidifies the Government’s commitment to the development of the agriculture and marine science sectors by providing free tuition to those who are eager to take up the mantle to make a difference and chart new economic and entrepreneurial pathways.
Executive Director of BAMSI, Dr Raveenia Roberts Hanna said that she is excited. The Institute is now included in the national tertiary education grant program, and she underscored the vital role BAMSI plays in providing a technically skilled and trained workforce to tap into the many partnerships and opportunities that will be unveiled in the economy. “We are poised for this role as we have been intentional and strategic in our program offerings to ensure that we build capacity and meet national needs. We are proud that our students will benefit from the education grant and will continue to make the positive impacts that our graduates are known for.”
This major initiative will increase access to tertiary education for qualified Bahamian citizens and fulfill the Government’s mandate of free tuition for its citizens. Further, with the economic impact of COVID-19 on the country and the world, this initiative is timely and crucial to the development of the Bahamian people and to the agriculture and marine resource sectors. Students will be able to enroll in one of several associate degree programs at BAMSI, including agriculture, marine science, environmental science, agribusiness and aquaculture. The Institute has also recently launched five new courses to join its core programs – business management, art and environment, animal science, agronomy and general agriculture. Students are immersed in hands-on training and experiential learning that is reinforced with current academic trends and scientific research.
The education grant will fund tuition, compulsory course fees, and textbooks for full-time students of BAMSI. Compulsory course fees covered under the grant are technology, student activities, library, course lab and studio fees, and course external examination fees as applicable. The grant does not cover non-instructional fees like the security deposit, application, graduation and drop/add. It also does not include payments for courses taken during the summer, nor the cost of repeating a course.
There is a one-time enrolment process for all education grant recipients. Application for the Fall is still open so it is not too late to apply and take advantage of this important opportunity. New and returning students are encouraged to apply by July 1, 2020 in order to be processed in a timely manner.
