THE Governments of Cuba and Guyana are reviewing the Guyana/Cuba Special Scholarship Programme with the aim of possibly expanding it.
Head of the Foreign Studies Division in the Ministry of Higher Education in Cuba Mr. Francisco Martinez arrived in Guyana yesterday and is meeting Government officials to "review and discuss the possibility of additional assistance in the scholarship programme," Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President Jennifer Webster said.
While here Mr. Martinez, accompanied by Government officials, will be meeting the parents of students who are already studying in Cuba under the Special Scholarship Programme. To date there are 234 students studying in Cuba under this programme.
The meeting has been arranged for today at the Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown, beginning at 17:00 hours.
Meanwhile, Ms. Webster said preparations for the next batch of scholarship awardees of the Guyana/Cuba Special Scholarship Programme are well underway. At present interviews are being conducted to shortlist the next batch.
During a visit in 2001 to the Spanish-speaking country President Bharrat Jagdeo secured 350 scholarships from Cuban President Dr. Fidel Castro, under the Guyana/Cuba Joint Commission. The scholarships are being awarded to local students, including Amerindians, over a period of three years.
The 350 students will pursue degrees in Medicine, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Culture, Sport, Agriculture, Architecture and other areas of study under the joint auspices of the Guyana and Cuban Governments.
The Cuban Scholarship Programme is managed by the Public Service Ministry in collaboration with the Office of the President. Under the scholarship programme, 131 students left in the first batch and 103 in the second.
Government provides each student with a stipend of CAN$50 per month. The current batch of students uplifted their stipend for the next six months yesterday.
The students, on their return, are expected to serve Guyana for five years. (GINA)