More than half of the 2022 United Kingdom (UK) Chevening Government Scholarships for Caribbean nationals were awarded to Jamaicans.

Of the 33 scholarships that were made available, 16 were awarded to nine women and seven men from the country. They will be studying in fields such as Special and Inclusive Education, Law, Media and Communications, Counterterrorism, Security and Public Health Management.

The 16 recipients were also chosen from a local batch of 400 applicants this year. Nearly 300 Jamaicans have benefited from this scholarship, to date, which will be increased following the programme completion by this year’s cohort.

Judith Slater, British High Commissioner to Jamaica, lauded the achievement of the Jamaicans saying its “speaks volumes to the talent we have here on the island”.

The awardees are from Kingston, St Andrew, Manchester, St Ann, St James and Clarendon, which the high commissioner acknowledged is a very good spread.

They will be going to universities across England, Scotland and Wales.

“I want to thank the Jamaican education system, which has produced you all, because had it not done so, you wouldn’t have gotten these scholarships,” Slater said as she addressed a reception last week at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Kingston to present them with their scholarship certificates.

For her part, Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams remarked: “This is an opportunity that I would encourage qualified Jamaicans to pursue. [It] offers an avenue for development to future leaders and decision-makers in various fields. May you carry Jamaica with you; I know you’ll be our ambassadors.”

While Jamaica’s 2022 scholars range from age 25 to 43, the Chevening Programme accepts applicants 18 years and older who are evaluated, based on their character, academic achievements and recent work produced in their careers. The programme is aimed at developing global leaders across the world.