28 Sep 2017

China pays fees for students from struggling families in Samoa

7:18 pm on 28 September 2017

More than 32 thousand US dollars have been handed over to Samoa's ministry of education for the Guangdong Huizhou Friendship Scholarship Program.

Samoa youth delegates talk about common issues.

Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins

Around 550 students are expected to benefit from the scholarships this year.

According to a government press release, the scheme is in honor of an MOU inked between Samoa and China in 2015.

The Chinese Ambassador Wang Xuefeng was on hand to hand over the awards to students yesterday.

"Through friendship scholarship program is more educational grants than scholarships. I am happy to know that these exucational grants have been used wisely," said Wang Xuefeng.

It is understood China will also be handing out 20 tertiary scholarships for high performing in-service teachers in October as part of the World Teacher Day celebrations.

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