The Tribune

FULL-TIME students at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) will be able to study for free when it resumes in the autumn.

Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Michael Pintard made the announcement during his contribution to the 2020/21 Budget debate.

“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.

Executive director of BAMSI, Dr Raveenia Roberts Hanna said she is excited by the scheme.

“We are poised for this role as we have been intentional and strategic in our programme offerings to ensure that we build capacity and meet national needs,” she said. “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.”

The initiative will increase access to education for Bahamians and BAMSI said the move will help to fulfill the government’s mandate of free tuition for its citizens.

Students will be able to enroll in one of several degree programmes, including agriculture, marine science, environmental science, agribusiness and aquaculture. The institute recently launched five new courses - business management, art and environment, animal science, agronomy and general agriculture.

The grant will fund tuition, compulsory course fees, and textbooks. Compulsory course fees covered are technology, student activities, library, course lab and studio fees, and external examination fees as applicable. The grant does not cover non-instructional fees such as the security deposit, application, and graduation. It also does not include payments for summer courses, nor the cost of repeating a course.

Application for the autumn semester is open until July 1.