The Bertram Collins College of Public Service which was shut down recently is set to be used as a secretariat for the government’s scholarship programmes.
This was disclosed during the recent consideration of estimates for the 2021 national budget at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, made the announcement.
Parag said that the site of the previous College of Public Service is now being used to house the government’s 20,000 online scholarships programme which she said will commence shortly. Former Public Service Minister Tabitha Sarabo-Halley questioned Parag about scholarships which the minister had announced previously.
Sarabo-Halley asked whether the areas of study and the number of persons to study in those areas had been determined for the 4,500 scholarships which are to be given out this year. Parag responded that the scholarships which will be offered to all Guyanese in various sectors of the population will be in areas of need for the country.
“The 4,500 scholarships are to be offered to all Guyanese, the general public, the disciplinary services, the public service and two other sectors. The scholarships will be in areas that are of necessity, nationally, not only in the public service but nationally”, Parag explained.
Further, Parag noted that to determine what is of necessity to the country, an ongoing needs assessment survey is being conducted in all agencies, in both the private and public sectors and subsequently these areas will be determined.
Meanwhile, Sarabo-Halley questioned whether these scholarship awardees will be entering into contracts with the government as they are slated for the general public and not only public servants. To this end it was indicated that those individuals will be signed into contracts with the government.
“The current contract that is signed by persons getting scholarships, says basically that the person has to serve the government for a period of years… so I am trying to get clarity [on] whether all 4,500 persons who will be getting scholarships will have to work in the public service when they have completed”, their studies Sarabo-Halley told the House.
It was then stated that the contract is currently under review and is being revised by the government so as to not be harsh on the recipients. “So the existing contract will not be [used] anymore” the Public Service Minister said.
