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Boost for top students

More will qualify

THE New Zealand Scholarship Awards, that recognise and reward New Zealand's top school students, are to be enhanced to include more students.

"The changes mean more students will be eligible for awards without lowering the very high standard demanded of students in the exams. Based on the estimated number of awards there will be around 150 more awards given out than the original estimate of around 350," the Minister of Education, Mr Trevor Mallard said.

The New Zealand Scholar Award is being extended to those students who are outstanding in one or two subjects, instead of three subjects as previously.

A new Scholarship Award is also being introduced for students who obtain three subjects in Scholarship. There will also be a School Award for the top student, provided that student achieved a scholarship subject.

There is to be no change to the Top Overall Scholars and the Top Subject Scholars.

The following list summarises the awards.

Top Overall Scholars: The two top performers selected from all New Zealand Scholarship award recipients:

* 1st award $15,000 per year for three years

* 2nd award $10,000 per year for three years

New Zealand Scholar Awards: With Distinction Outstanding performance in three NZ Scholarship subjects

* Awarded $7,500 per year for three years

Outstanding performance in two NZ Scholarship subjects:

* Awarded $4,000 per year for three years

Outstanding performance in one NZ Scholarship subject

* Awarded $2000 per year for three years

Scholarship Award: Scholarship in three subjects

* Awarded $2,000 per year for three years

Top Subject Scholars: In NZ Scholarship and in non-Scholarship (NCEA level 3 subjects)

* Awarded $3,000 per year for three years

Schools Award: Limited to one person per school, available to all schools where at least one student gains scholarship in at least one subject

* Awarded $1500 per year for three years.