Two government ministers are among 38 persons currently benefiting from government scholarships.
Minister in the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry is in the first year of a doctoral programme in public health at a US university and it will cost taxpayers $3,339,460 this year.
Minister in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson is pursuing public policy management in the UK and this is her second year and it will cost taxpayers $3,382,300.
It is most unusual for government ministers to be competing with citizens for scholarships, observers say.
The names of students currently on scholarship were released to Parliament by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon in response to a question raised by PPP/C Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira during the consideration of the budget estimates.
Henry and Ferguson are on the list of 38 fully funded students on overseas scholarships. Others on the list include Carol Prasad-Valz, Deslyn West, Keeran Danny, Sean Austin, Alicia Roopnaraine and Tabitha Sarabo Halley.
A number of those on the list are recent high achievers from CAPE exams.
