THE prestigious King Henry VIII (KH8) College will be awarding 10 Commonwealth scholarships totalling over RM3mil to deserving students this year.
As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, the British education institution in Cyberjaya has decided to hand out six merit-based scholarships, two sports scholarships and two performing arts scholarships to students from any developing Commonwealth nation.
KH8 board of governors chairman Datuk Benny Hoe said applications for the KH8 College Commonwealth Scholarship Awards will start in March for the September 2020 intake.
Applicants must be of appropriate age for a Sixth Form education, meaning those born between Sept 1,2002 and March 1,2004 can apply.
“They must also be citizens by birth of a Commonwealth country, currently being educated in a Commonwealth nation, ” he said.
The merit-based scholarships are awarded for academic excellence across a broad range of subject areas, including Mathematics, the Sciences, languages and humanities.
For performing arts and sports scholarships, candidates must be able to manage a full A-Level programme at KH8 and simultaneously demonstrate their musical and theatrical talent or sporting aptitude.
Successful applicants need not fret over “hidden charges” that may occur throughout their education journey at KH8, noted Hoe.
“Each scholarship is worth over RM300,000. It fully covers all tuition and activity fees (including weekend excursions).
“Scholars will also enjoy full boarding in accommodation blocks within the school’s premises, ” he said.
Selection of applicants will be based on criteria set by the Commonwealth secretariat.
“It is going to be a stringent process. After we (KH8) have gathered and sifted through all the applications, the final selection will be sent to the secretariat for approval, ” he added.
Established in 2018, KH8 is a British International boarding-cum-day school located in Cyberjaya that caters to students aged three to 18.
With a proud history of nearly 500 years, KH8 is the first overseas school established by Christ College Brecon – its sister college founded by King Henry VIII in 1541 – outside Great Britain. It currently houses more than 550 students with an international ratio of 60:40.
With a school motto of “They achieve because they believe they can”, the tenets of KH8’s curriculum revolves around producing students with good values and a sense of tradition, who develop a powerful sense of what they can achieve.
A firm believer that education is a platform for self-improvement, Hoe said education is an opportunity for students to learn about strong social values and respect for their fellow human beings.
“KH8’s environment encourages students to be independent, make decisions for themselves, be good in time management and organised in studies and social activities.
“Students here live in a close, multi-racial community with their teachers who teach the young ones about mutual respect and trust for each other.
“These are all fundamental teachings that would prepare them to face the world with strong social values and respect for their fellow human beings, ” he said in his welcoming speech at the recent launch of the scholarship programme.
Commonwealth secretary-general Baroness Patricia Scotland, who launched the scholarship programme, and Christ College Brecon chair of governors Sir Paul Silk were present.
Praising KH8 and Christ College Brecon for joining forces, Scotland described them as an “examplar” for other institutions.
She said education can be used to build bridges between nations through great partnerships and deeper understanding of different cultures.
“Education is the most wonderful opportunity for children to come together to learn about humanity.
“Scholars who attend this school for two years will be boarders (of their respective country). So they’ll be living together (with other students), learning from each other and hopefully, inspiring each other, ” she noted.
Given that the world is competitive, inter-operational and interconnected, she added that it is critically important for children to know each other, different cultures, religions and languages.
“It is essential for us to look at our humanity on what joins us (people) as opposed to what divides us, ” she said.
The future, she said, is to be determined by youths, who need to acquire proper skills and knowledge to build a peaceful world.
“Young people – those who are below the age of 30 – make up 60% of the Commonwealth which comprises 2.4 billion citizens.
“It is absolutely critical that we help that demographic take advantage of all of their talent, ” she added.
Besides launching the Commonwealth Scholarship Award, Scotland also officiated the institution’s new auditorium, The Baroness Scotland Theatre, which has been named in her honour.
Meanwhile, Silk emphasised that the collaboration between the sister schools is beneficial for all students in both schools.
“We are collaborating together exactly the same way as how the Commonwealth is working to bring nations together. We are instilling the idea that they are collaborators with their colleagues here.
“These brilliant Commonwealth scholarships will provide wonderful openings and possibilities for the young people of talent who will be enabled to join this thriving community. Scholars will surely develop into the sort of citizens our world needs, ” he said.