News & Opportunities

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SCHOLARSHIPS

GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIА

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, INNOVATION, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING

2026 COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM - ONE (1) YEAR MASTER'S DEGREE

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the United Kingdom invites suitably qualified candidates to apply for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, commencing September 2026, for a period of one (1) academic year. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for candidates from low and upper middle-income Commonwealth countries, undertaking full-time taught Master's study at a university in the United Kingdom (UK). The CSC is open for applications between September 2 and October 14, 2025.

The CSC provides the UK Government’s Commonwealth Scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. Since 1960, the CSC has funded over 30,000 individuals to study in the UK, who have gained skills, acquire knowledge and build networks to tackle global development challenges. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals who have the potential to make change and to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development. It is also aimed at those from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds, demonstrating social or economic disadvantage and who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. The CSC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates.

For details on the 2025 Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships Terms and Conditions, please visit: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/about-us/scholarships/ and for eligibility requirements, click on: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/.

Scholarship Themes

All Commonwealth Scholarships are offered under six (6) CSC development themes and candidates must apply for an area of study which falls under one (1) of these themes:

Science and technology for development
Improving population health, health systems and capacity
Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
Strengthening peace, security and governance
Strengthening resilience and response to crises
Access, inclusion and opportunity

Value of the Award

Each scholarship provides:

Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependents, nor the cost of journeys made before the award is confirmed).
Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and Scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,452 per month, or £1,781 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels).
Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of child allowance of £622 per month for the first child, and £154 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them at the same address in the UK.
If a Scholar shares that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.
The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining a Scholar’s family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and Scholars must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who accompany them to the UK.

For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows. Please note that the conditions outlined in the Handbook are subject to change.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for selection applicants must:

be a citizen or permanent resident of Saint Lucia;
be in good physical and mental health to complete the programme successfully
select an area of study listed on the “Government of Saint Lucia List of Priority Areas for National Training 2023-2026”, which is available on the Government of Saint Lucia website:

http://www.govt.lc/publications/government-of-saint-lucia-approved-priority-list

be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2026
by September 2026, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard, or a second-class degree (2.2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)*. The CSC would not normally fund a second UK Master’s degree, however, if you are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, you will need to provide justification as to why you wish to undertake this study;
have provided all supporting documentation in the required format
be from a low-income family/household (Financial Needs Form must be completed).
not be able to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship

*The CSC recognizes that disabled people have often faced and overcome challenges or barriers in their education journey which have prevented them achieving the academic requirement for a Commonwealth Scholarship. Disabled applicants who can demonstrate their potential to contribute to international development but who do not hold a 2:1 Undergraduate degree may be considered for a contextualized nomination through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum nominator. For more information, please contact CDPF directly using the details on our NGOs and charitable body nominators page.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants. For further information on the support available to scholars who share that they have a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

There is no age limit for CSC applications. Applicants are advised to confirm with their employers any age restrictions on leave entitlement they may have in place.

General Application Procedure

Applicant must apply to study at an approved UK university which has a part funding agreement with the CSC. Part funding agreements are at the discretion of individual universities. For a list of universities that have agreed to part fund Commonwealth Scholarships, visit: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/uk-universities/
Candidates who wish to be nominated for a Commonwealth Scholarship MUST first apply using the Electronic Application System (EAS) provided by the CSC on its website. The EAS application portal opens on September 02, 2025 and closes on closes on October 14, 2025.
The CSC does not accept direct submission of applications for scholarships. Therefore, applications must be submitted via the national nominating agency, (Department of Education, Innovation and Vocational Training) scholarship portal http://scholarships.education.gov.lc/ (see below for required documents). In addition, applicants must also submit a copy of the EAS FORM on the scholarship portal.
Applicants referees should also email their signed recommendations to hrdeducation.slu@gmail.com

Applicants should follow the process below when applying for this scholarship:

Complete the requisite Electronic Application System (EAS) Form, and upload all required documents to your online application. To apply for the Master’s Scholarship please use the following link: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/
Complete the Department of Education Online Application and upload the required documents to your online application (including a copy of the EAS Form).
After submitting the online application, you will receive a confirmation email.

If you do not receive the confirmation email after submitting your online application, please send an email to: hrdeducation.slu@gmail.com.

Applicants should note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Documents required by the National Liaison Office (Department of Education):

EAS Form.
Verified copy of the diploma for the highest degree obtained (verified by the Department of Education)
Copy of transcript of grades for the highest academic degree completed and/or to be completed (with certified translations if not in English)
Admission letter to begin programme of studies by September 2026.
Two (2) recommendation letters from current or former, professor, supervisor, business leader, etc., stamped and/or signed. If unemployed or never employed, the candidate may obtain recommendations from whom they think can give academic, professional or personal references. Recommendation letters must be written and signed by the recommenders and they cannot come from a relative of the applicant.
Cover Minute from Permanent Secretary/Head of Department, endorsing the request for Training (For Public Service Employees only);
Statement of Conduct and Work Ethics Form (for Public Service Employees only).
Curriculum Vitae (must not exceed 2 pages);
Copy of Birth Certificate;
Copy of the Official Identification Card (ID) – Government issued ID by the Sponsoring Country or Passport;
Police Record three (3) months or less; and

12. Financial Needs Assessment Form

Selection Criteria

The CSC draws the following to your attention:

Applicant must demonstrate the direct and applied relevance of their study to development in their home country; any such links must be made explicit in their applications.
Applicants are required to state in their application which of the CSC’s six development themes they are applying under.
Applicant will be asked in their application to select up to three Sustainable Development Goals relevant to their development impact.
Commonwealth Scholarships are aimed at individuals who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. Every applicant will be required to sign a declaration that they do not have access to sufficient funds to study in the UK and no candidate with the independent means to study in the UK should be nominated to the CSC.
Applicants will be asked to supply a personal statement within their application which will provide the selection panel with more information about their background and give additional context to their application. It will be considered by the selection panel but will not be graded.
Applicant will be recruited in line with the CSC anti-fraud policy and procedure which is available at the following link:

CSC anti-fraud policy:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/637df8cf8fa8f56ea9d46298/CSC-Anti-Fraud-Bribery-Corruption-Policy-and-Procedure-Nov22.pdf

The CSC’s selection criteria are as follows:

Academic merit of the candidate
Quality of the study plan
Potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country

The deadline for submission of all 2026 UK Commonwealth Scholarship applications on the Department of Education’s scholarship portal is no later than October 14, 2025.

UNIVERSIDAD ANA G. MÉNDEZ SCHOLARSHIP

The Organization of American States (OAS), through the Department of Human Development, Education and Employment (DHDEE) and the Universidad Ana G. Méndez are offering scholarships to individuals desirous of pursuing higher education.

For additional information on the academic programs available (Annex 1) under this scholarship opportunity please visit:

https://www.oas.org/en/scholarships/PAEC/2025/UPDATED_2025%20OAS-AGMU%20SCHOLARSHIP%20OPPORTUNITY%20online-extended%20deadline.pdf

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for this scholarship opportunity, an applicant must:

➢ Be a new applicant;

This scholarship opportunity is open to new applicants who are from an OAS member state and are not an OAS-UAGM scholarship recipient; and

➢ Be a citizen and/or permanent legal resident of any OAS member state, except the United States.

Application Process

· Prospective applicants are advised to review the program description to ensure it matches their academic interests and goals.

· Complete UAGM admission process and submit all required documentation

· Only applicants who have been admitted to UAGM will be considered for the scholarship

To apply for this scholarship opportunity or for further details please visit the following link https://www.agmu.edu/en/oas or forward all queries with the subject “OAS – AGMU Scholarship Program” to scholarships@oas.org.

AGMU will contact selected candidates via email with the scholarship offer and instructions for the scholarship acceptance. Applicants who are not selected will not be contacted.

AGMU and the OAS will select the scholarship awardees, based on the institution’s admission criteria. The names of the scholarship awardees will be published in June at www.oas.org/scholarships.

Deadline for submission of applications is October 13, 2025

VACANCIES

GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, INNOVATION, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING

VACANCY NOTICE

The Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training (Department of Education, Innovation and Vocational Training) invites suitably qualified individuals to apply for the office of Guidance Counselling – District III and District VI.

A. OFFICE IDENTIFICATION

Job Title: District Guidance Counsellor– District III and District VI

Department: Guidance Counselling

Classification: Grade 14 - 16

Reports to: Coordinator Guidance

Supervises: School Guidance Counsellors

RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS:

1. Provides a comprehensive developmental preventative counselling programme to address the academic, career and personal/social development of students in order to enhance the learning process.

2. Facilitates the support system for students by working in collaboration with all stakeholders including: school personnel, parents/guardians, other professionals, social and other agencies.

3. Supervises the School Guidance Counsellors within the Education District; reports to the Coordinator, Guidance Counselling and collaborates with the District Education Officer where necessary.

DUTIES AND TASKS:

1. Develops and manages the Primary School District Guidance and Counselling plan that is based on student needs and assesses the efficacy of the programmes implemented to foster student development.

2. Provides individual and group counselling services for primary school students through direct interaction with the students within the Education District so as to meet the needs of students (e.g. social, behavioural, emotional, educational and career).

3. Conducts classroom guidance sessions at primary schools within the Education district to meet student developmental needs.

4. Consults with school personnel and other professionals, parents/guardians, social and other agencies through one-on-one or group sessions, in order to effectively address student issues.

5. Supervises and evaluates school counsellors and provides assistance, guidance and leadership to them to identify additional continuing education opportunities for them.

6. Demonstrates appropriate case management and treatment planning to reflect assessment reports, treatment goals, interventions used and progress notes.

7. Maintains records and ensures that student information and documents are kept confidential so as to ensure accuracy, confidentiality and reliability of the information.

8. Initiates referral of students by preparing the appropriate forms, documents or letters to the appropriate services or agencies as necessary, to address the needs of these students.

9. Ensures that all cases of abuse including abandonment and neglect are reported to the relevant authorities for appropriate action.

10. Coordinates all crisis intervention activities within the Education District through collaboration with the Co-ordinator – Guidance Counselling, to ensure that appropriate measures are put in place.

11. Organizes and executes career guidance education and supporting activities through various school visits within the Education District in order to enhance students’ school-to-work transition.

12. Advocates on behalf of students when appropriate to highlight issues that affect those students in an effort to make their lives easier.

13. Assists in training of Health and Family Life Education Teachers through workshops or in-class demonstrations to more effectively deliver the HFLE programme.

14. Conducts staff/professional development and parent education workshops within the Education District to enable them to work more effectively with students.

15. Facilitates in-service training programmes to address the professional development of school counsellors.

16. Attends all scheduled meetings of counsellors and other meetings, conferences and workshops upon written invitation from the Department of Education, Innovation and Vocational Training to enhance both their personal and professional development.

17. Participates in professional development activities and maintains a professional development plan to guide self-improvement.

18. Any other related duties that may be assigned from time to time.

CONDITIONS:

1. Accommodation provided in Education District office (private office equipped with computer/printer, filing cabinet, bookshelf, telephone, executive chair and desk).

2. Functions in a scheduled travelling post and will receive basic travel allowance in accordance with approved rates.

3. Required to maintain a motor vehicle for the proper performance of duties.

4. Institutional support provided through appropriate public service/teaching service regulations and Ministry Guidelines.

5. Opportunities exist for personal development and career advancement through established orientation and in service training.

6. Salary is in accordance with the terms and conditions stipulated by Government in the Annual Estimates /Collective Agreement.

KNOLWEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. A working knowledge of and the ability to interpret and adhere to the Education Act No. 41 of 1999 and Teaching Service Rules and Regulations: Ministry’s procedures, Staff Orders, Financial and Store Rules, Collective Agreements and other Operating Procedures.

2. Knowledge of the standard Operation Procedures contained in the Ministry’s Operations Manual.

3. Knowledge of and the ability to interpret the Children and Young Persons Act 1972 and the Convention of the Rights of the Child 1993.

4. Knowledge of a range of counselling Theories and practices.

5. Ability to impart life skills training.

6. Capacity to work well with a range of individuals and to establish good rapport with stakeholders.

7. Knowledge of and sensitivity to multicultural issues.

8. Knowledge of legal and ethical issues pertaining to counselling.

EVALUATION METHOD:

Work performance will be evaluated on the following basis:

1. Effectiveness of the Guidance and counselling programme within the Education District.

2. Proven knowledge of legal and ethical issues pertaining to counselling and ability to establish the limits of confidentiality.

3. Timely completion, accuracy and quality of work plans and reports.

4. Proven knowledge and understanding of and the effective application of Teaching Service Rules, Regulations and the Education Act.

5. Compliance with the Ministry of Education’s Department Guidelines and Policies and Professional Code of Conduct.

6. Effective implementation of duties, responsibilities and assignments defined in job description.

7. Level of cooperation and willingness to work as a team.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

The candidates should possess at least one of the following:

1. Master’s Degree in Guidance/School Counselling, Psychology, clinical Psychology or Social work from an accredited institution with at least five years in a supervisory position.

2. Master’s Degree in Guidance/School Counselling, Psychology, clinical Psychology or Social work from an accredited institution with at least three years as a school counsellor with extensive supervised experience in the area of school counselling.

Training in clinical supervision in the area of counselling.
Training and experience in individual and group counselling.
Experience in implementing didactic programmes in school counselling.

SALARY

Salary is at a rate of EC$75,457.08 per annum (Grade 15, Step 1).

GENERAL

The successful applicant’s income will be liable to taxation in accordance with the Income Tax Act Chapter 15.02.

Applications MUST be accompanied by verified copies of ALL certificates and transcripts from the relevant institutions. Two confidential testimonials are required – one from the Principal of the school at which the teacher is presently employed and one from the Education Officer for the District. For applicants outside of the school system, testimonials should be from immediate supervisors.

Please note that:

1. performance and punctuality will be used as part of the criteria for selection of persons already in the Education System;

2. the successful applicant may be given an acting appointment for up to twelve (12) months; and

3. applicants are required to indicate administrative positions held and experience gained.

B. HOW TO APPLY

Applications on the prescribed forms should be addressed to:

The Secretary

Teaching Service Commission

Stanislaus James Building

The Waterfront

CASTRIES

Completed application forms should reach the Secretary, Teaching Service Commission by Friday, October 10, 2025.

Application Forms can be obtained from the Office of the Teaching Service Commission, Ground Floor, Sir Stanislaus James Building, The Waterfront, Castries or

http://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/resources/forms/saint-lucia-teaching-service application-form.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING

CXC NEWS

2025 CXC RESULTS

Saint Lucian secondary students have performed above the regional average in both Math and English in this year's CXC examinations. The Ministry of Education released the 2025 CXC results and during the presentation, Acting Registrar of Examinations, Patterson Abraham, praised the efforts of students, teachers, and schools, noting that St. Lucia placed fifth among regional territories.

View Here: Official Release of the 2025 CXC Results (August 21, 2025)