Day of pride for schools

Two schools in the kingdom are delighted to have made their debut entry into the prestigious Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Programme (CPISP).
 
Abdulrahman Kanoo International School and Al Raja School students – Ola Mohamed Kamal Ebrahim and Sarah Ali Saeed Al Zeera – are the bright girls who have made their institutions and family proud by making it among the top 10.
 
Founded in 1999 the celebrated CPISP) provides for a fully-funded scholarship that covers all fees, travel and living expenses for 10 bright students to complete their further education in universities in the UK, US, France and Canada. While six scholarships go to public school students, four go to private school students.

This is the 12th batch of scholars benefiting from the programme, which is founded on the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s aim to nurture the minds of Bahrain’s most gifted and talented youngsters through education by providing them with an opportunity to learn at the finest international educational institutions.

Urging students to work hard and take advantage of the resources provided to them and challenge every obstacle with perseverance, hard work and determination, he said: “Excellence and education will help Bahrainis play a greater role in the development of the kingdom and its future.”

Delighted with her selection, Ola, 17, from Janabiya, said: “It has been a lot of hard work for over a year and in the end the dedication has paid off. I have been dreaming about this moment ever since I heard about the programme in Grade 10 and I believe that balancing my priorities in studies and extra-curricular activities has helped me the most.”

Ola is joining the University of Pennsylvania to do a dual degree in economics and international relations. Her choice of subjects follows her belief that an understanding of economics is the answer to improving standards of living and creating more culturally tolerant societies.

Her friend Sarah, 17, from Saar, who will join the US New York University, believes the run-up to the scholarship was itself an excellent experience. A sportsperson who has represented her school’s volleyball and basketball teams, she said: “I worked extra hard in my weak areas but always remembered to have fun, make friends and participate in everything that interests me. I hope to study economics and finance and gain international work experience before coming back to Bahrain.”

The three scholarships to boys from government schools have all gone to students of Isa Town Boys School – Ahmed Adham Ebrahim Bardooli, Mohamed Nabeel Noor Khunji and Saeed Ahmed Saeed Al Rahma. Ahmed and Saeed will join the Tabor Academy and Choate Rosemary Hall in the US to pursue a High School Post Graduate Diploma while Mohamed will pursue A’levels in the UK.

Top girls from Khawla Girls School – Esraa Abdulnabi Abdulla Al Sabah, Jannat Oun Al Khunaizi and Mona Mohamed Hasan – have grabbed all the three positions for girls from government schools. While Esraa will proceed to Loomis Chaffee School in the US to complete her High School Post Graduate Diploma, her colleagues Jannat and Mona will complete their A’levels in the UK.

Among private schools, two scholarships have gone to St Christopher’s School students – Feras Abdulla Hasan Al Ajmi who joins Yale University in the US to pursue a degree in economics and Yousif Fareed Rouben who joins the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US to study electrical engineering and computer science or economics.

On completing their bachelor’s degree CPISP scholars also have an option to continue with their further education and are encouraged to gain international work experience. It also provides students with internships at various institutions, organisations and banks in Bahrain and abroad.

Scholars are selected based on a combined score of their GPA and results of the English language test and an intensive selection process that includes various preparation courses, workshops and standardised testing. During the selection they have also participated in an Action Learning Programme, where students are assigned to a team at participating organisations to complete a real work challenge.

The scholarship has gained steadily in popularity and has received over 260 applications for next year’s selections, surpassing the average number of expected applications it receives each year by almost 100.