Students are graduating into a different world than the one their parents stepped into two or three decades ago. To better help them with the transition the Ministry of Education has unveiled a revamped provincial scholarship program.
“The revised program provides more flexibility to recognize well-rounded students who excel beyond the classroom,” says a Ministry of Education release.
It goes on to say the revised scholarships support “a broad range of student achievement and reflects the different pathways students follow to earning their Dogwood Diplomas.”
It also aligns better with the objectives of BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, an initiative of the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training to position students to ‘meet labour market priorities’ and land “skilled trades that will soon be in high demand.”
“Our revamped scholarship program is going to better recognize the diversity of our students and their successes – in the classroom, on the field, on the stage and in the community,” said Minister of Education Mike Bernier.
The revised program increases the dollar value of scholarships, which are offered in four major categories:
• BC Excellence Scholarship – for students who make a commitment to a particular career path and a demonstration of community involvement/leadership skills;
• Pathway to Teacher Education Scholarship – for academic achievement and commitment to a teaching career;
• BC Achievement Scholarship – for achievement in grades 10, 11 and 12 courses required for graduation and top elective courses; and
• District Scholarships – with criteria to be determined by local districts.
The district scholarships can reward achievement in a variety of areas including: technical and trades training, fine arts, physical activity, applied skills, international languages, community service and indigenous languages and culture.
The new program will be phased in beginning this fall with full implementation expected in the 2016-17 school year.
