The Saint Lucia Labour Party administration has removed the requirement for students applying for scholarships to provide a financial guarantor, a move aimed at improving access to higher education for low-income families. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre announced the change during a pre-cabinet media briefing.
“The government of Saint Lucia has decided that we are going to remove the need for financial guarantor for students who get scholarships to go to study at institutions of higher learning,” the Prime Minister said.
He explained that the first-generation scholarship programme, designed for students from families where no one has attended university, previously included a financial guarantee requirement.
“If a family cannot afford to send even one of their members to university, it follows that they don’t have the financial means. How can you ask them for a financial guarantee?” Pierre asked, noting that the previous requirement prevented some deserving students from accessing scholarships.
Under the new system, students will now only need to provide a character reference.
“As a student who gets the scholarship, they will give a character reference in that somebody will testify that they are of good character, et cetera, and they will be bonded to work. But the need for financial guarantee has stopped. From today, there will be no need for financial guarantee for students when they get a scholarship,” the Prime Minister affirmed.
He emphasized that the change will particularly benefit students from low-income households.
“That’s going to help many, many students from low-income families who will not be able to get this guarantee. So, the government has decided that from today, when you get a scholarship, there is no need for financial guarantee,” he concluded.
The policy shift is expected to make higher education more accessible and equitable, reflecting the administration’s commitment to supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.