Teachers Credit Union grants university bursaries to two teachers
UNIVERSITY BURSARY RECIPIENTS (from left) Nikeshia John and Shersita McKie
News
September 6, 2024

Teachers Credit Union grants university bursaries to two teachers

THE GOVERNMENT may be on target to reach its 2030 goal of having at least one University graduate per household in this country, and the St Vincent Teachers Cooperative Credit Union (SVGTCCU), has been applauded for assisting two teachers on the start of their tertiary education journey.

Shersita McKie and Nikeshia John were on Tuesday, September 3,2024, awarded bursaries each valued at $5,000 to advance their studies at the University of the West Indies, Open Campus, Kingstown.

McKie is pursuing studies towards a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Care, while John’s programme is Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients at the handover ceremony, McKie expressed gratitude to the SVGTCCU, saying the bursaries will go a long way to ease their financial burdens.

“As one of the persons that is receiving this bursary this year…I have to express my gratitude to the Credit Union.We want to thank you for your contribution to our educational needs and giving us the opportunity to make our dreams possible as we achieve to serve our nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines.You also have eased our financial burden for the next two semesters,” McKie said.

“I must say that this bursary is very important for us and the future generation that is coming up.We might have challenges and setbacks but we must not be discouraged.”

Dixton Findlay, representative in the Department of Post-secondary Higher Education credited the SVGTCCU for being one of the first credit unions in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), to offer education support through bursaries.

Findlay disclosed that around 2,000 persons received scholarships in 2022 and 2023, which brings the Ministry closer to reaching the target of the number of Vincentians with first degrees.

The government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, over the years has been giving tuition scholarships. In 2022, 800 persons received tuition scholarships, and the following year, more than 1,200 persons received tuition scholarships. The government’s policy is to have at least one College/University graduate per household by the year 2030 “and we are on course to achieve that milestone and the contribution from the teachers credit union is making this a little easier,” Findlay said.

Last month, four students received seven year scholarships from the SVGTCCU to begin their education at secondary school, and continuing through to the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College.