THE government has opened the maiden window of Samia Scholarships for 640 placements of students who have performed well in science subjects.
Prof Adolph Mkenda, the Education, Science and Technology minister said here on Monday that those eligible for contesting need to accept a series of conditions, including withdrawal of sponsorship for beneficiaries posting a grade point average (GPA) below 3.8 in an academic year.
Eligible students will include those who scored highly in their 2022 Form VI examinations run by the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) for combinations like PCB, PCM, PGM, CBG, CBA, PMC, and CBN combinations.
The minister was addressing education stakeholders at a three-day curriculum review meeting including Zanzibar, with the focus on reviewing the 2014 national education policy.
Samia Scholarships
Samia Scholarships will cover 100 per cent of the cost for university education for selected students enrolled in technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine, he said. The scholarships will last for three to five years depending on the study programme for which the student is enrolled, he specified.
Applications start being submitted online right away for 14 days, after which the Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB) shall release the list of those selected on its website
Those selected to sign a sponsorship agreement with the ministry, open a bank account into which the money will be directly paid, “and he or she will not be allowed to change the programme specified without written permission from the ministry,” he stated.
The beneficiary will similarly not be allowed to postpone studies except for health emergencies.
Sponsorship will adhere to HESLB guideline levels in meeting costs for tuition, accommodation, meal allowances, books, special requirements for faculties, practical training or research, he said.
The selection will seek to maintain a noticeable gender balance of 244 girls and 396 boys, with beneficiaries more likely from schools that scored highly like Tabora Boys, St. Mary’s Mazindejuu, Kisimili Secondary School, Mzumbe Secondary School and Tabora Girls School.
Read also. Samia Scholarship Winners
Samia Scholarship Online Application
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