S.S.B. Awards 52 Scholarships
Since 2001, the Social Security Board of Belize has given out nine hundred scholarships all to the tune of three point eight million dollars. And for 2020, they have added another fifty-two students to the annual scholarship programme. But due to the pandemic, the S.S.B. didn’t hold its usual celebratory fanfare for its awardees where they all get together to sign contracts and give speeches. Instead, the awardees got a scaled down version with a ceremony wearing masks and seats six feet apart with only a handful of students. This morning, the recipients from the Belize District received scholarships. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, similar award ceremonies were held at each S.S.B. branch to welcome the students into the programme. News Five’s Andrea Polanco reports.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The Belize Social Security Board awarded fifty-two scholarships country-wide for the upcoming new school year. This morning, the scholarship recipients from Belize District officially received their scholarships and signed their contracts for the annual scholarship programme. GM of Corporate Relations Chandra Cansino tells us more about these S.S.B. scholarships.
Chandra Cansino
Chandra Cansino, GM of Corporate Relations, S.S.B.
“The scholarships primarily cover tuition; in most cases after we cover the cost of tuition we have an amount that is left over and we give that to the parents to assist in the purchasing of school books and other necessities that the students may have.”
Andrea Polanco
“What do they need to do to maintain those scholarships?”
Chandra Cansino
“For the high school students, the minimum requirement is an average of eighty and for the sixth form and college, they need an average of three point zero – I think that is equivalent to around a B.”
Jyah McKenzie
These scholarship recipients were selected based on academic grades, financial need and recommendations from their schools. Some of Belize District awardees and their parents spoke to me about how this scholarship will change their lives.
Jyah McKenzie, Scholarship Recipient
“I was very happy and grateful because I know my grandfather and grandmother were struggling to provide for us and for me it was just a blessing and I was so thankful for it. My mother died when I was three months and I was living with my grandparents. Right now they are paying for me and my sister who is on a social security scholarship but my grandparents are using their pension to provide for me.”
Andrea Polanco
“Talk to me about going to school – what are you looking forward to?”
Jyah McKenzie
“I am looking forward to having good grades; good behavior and then when I reach a certain age and get my education. I want to give back to other people who need it.”
Carol Edwards
Carol Edwards, Guardian of Scholarship Recipient
“I see how things are getting hard now especially with this disease that is going around and the money is kinda limited for us to provide with all the necessities that we need.”
Andrea Polanco
“How do you feel today witnessing your granddaughter get the opportunity to embark on her high school education?”
Carol Edwards
“I am very happy because I know that her dreams could fulfill and later in life when she grows up and finish from high school, she can do well in society. She can get a good job and still help someone else who needs the help.”
Andrea Polanco
“When you got this good news that you received this scholarship – what was the reaction? How did you feel?”
Darrell Tillett
Darrell Tillett, Scholarship Recipient
“I jumped around in my house because I was very happy.”
Andrea Polanco
“You are getting the opportunity to go to school – talk to me about what this scholarship means for you and your family?”
Darrell Tillett
“It means a lot for me and my family because my dad is a welder and he makes a little money in a week, so this means a lot to us.”
Andrea Polanco
“High school – talk to me about that?”
Darrell Tillett
“I am going to E.P. Yorke, so I won’t disappoint.”
Aneecia Casimiro, Scholarship Recipient
“It wah help my ma a lot because my pa nuh have a job and he done old. My ma go work on Wednesday and she is a housekeeper.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, this scholarship will go a long way for your family?”
Aneecia Casimiro
“Yes, ma’am.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, now talk to me about high school – what are you looking forward to?”
Aneecia Casimiro
“I am looking forward to pass and do good in high school.”
Andrea Polanco
“Think you are going to be able to maintain that eighty average?”
Aneecia Casimiro
“Yes, ma’am.”
Of the fifty two awardees across the country, thirty-one recipients are at the high school level; seventeen are going to sixth-form; three are for the bachelor’s level and one is in the vocational and technical category. Chandra Cansino says that more than three hundred applied – the highest number of applicants to date – something the SSB believes is directly related to economic hardships triggered by COVID-19.
Chandra Cansino
“This was the highest intake of applications that we have ever had. We received just under three hundred and forty nine applications this year. We shortlisted one hundred across the country and then we chose fifty-two that we awarded today.”
Reporter
“Do you think that the high intake was because of the more difficult economic situation?”
Chandra Cansino
“Most definitely. We did have a lot of students who applied that are unable to proceed with their education because of the current situation. So, all of that was taken into consideration during the interview process and selection process.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
The Social Security Board hopes to expand its services to scholarship recipients through a mentorship programme in the near future.
