Sixty more hinterland students have successfully completed their education at the secondary and technical institution level.

And several of these students will be returning to their respective communities to serve and to impart their knowledge to their villagers while some will be taking up opportunities to further their education, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

At a graduation ceremony held for this year’s batch at the Umana Yana in Kingston on Wednesday evening, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai delivered the charge to them. She urged that they aspire to become leaders in their communities and ambassadors for those who will be moving on to other institutions.

Minister Sukhai also expressed the hope that they will stay and serve their country because it is for this reason that the government embarked on the hinterland scholarship programme.

Challenging the students also at the ceremony was Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr. Desrey Fox who said government’s thrust and policy in the hinterland scholarship programme is to really enhance the lives of young Guyanese to be better citizens and to impart their knowledge to further develop Guyana.

Minister Fox said past scholarship students have made their country proud and still continue to do so in different fields.

The scholarship programme started in 1962.  In 1976 the programme was renamed the Hinterland Scholarship Programme and today it is fully supported by the government through the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs which, on a monthly basis, funds the students with a stipend, provides all their school necessities as well as accommodation and meals.

Guardians, special invitees and the graduating class were entertained by songs, poems and dances.