SJPI secures scholarship deal with diaspora foundation

The Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) has signed a three-year agreement with the Markonia Foundation to provide scholarships for its students. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was formalised on Tuesday, at the institute’s media resource centre.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Markonia Foundation will offer two annual awards of $900 each to first-year SJPI students.

The foundation, established by Mark and Sonia Corbin, former students and employees of the institute who now reside abroad, will also participate in the selection process for scholarship recipients.

Ian Drakes, the SJPI principal welcomed the partnership, highlighting the Corbins’ continued commitment to their alma mater.”This is the family interest coming right home from the diaspora to the SJPI to say, ‘here is your opportunity. We had our opportunity as students, we had our opportunity as instructors, we are citizens of this country, and we will continue to give back to the SJPI.’ We thank them tremendously,” he said.

The institute has agreed to advertise the scholarships, facilitate the application process, and provide progress reports on the recipients. Both parties aim to explore further cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Mark and Sonia Corbin expressed their dedication to supporting Barbadian youth. “When we reflect on our lives and where we’ve got to in terms of our careers, we always go back to the foundation of what happened in that period when we were students, not just at our secondary schools, Princess Margaret and Springer, but also that real foundation that went in here at the Polytechnic. So, this is an important step for us, and it’s really essential for us to keep supporting the young people who will be the future of Barbados,” they said.

The agreement outlines specific eligibility criteria for applicants, including Barbadian citizenship and prior education at designated secondary schools.

This partnership represents a step towards enhancing educational opportunities for Barbadian youth in technical and vocational fields, potentially addressing skills gaps in the local workforce.

(PR)