The Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Social Development yesterday signed two agreements with Occidental Oman Incorporated and Rima for Oil and Gas to finance a number of scholarships for the families of social security and low-income group to study at higher education institutions within the Sultanate. The agreements were signed on behalf of the Ministry of Higher Education by Dr Abdullah bin Mohamed al Sarmi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry and on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development by Khalfan bin Harib al Jabri, Director-General of Planning and Studies in the Ministry. The first agreement with Occidental Oman Incorporated, represented by Essam bin Saud al Zedjali, President and General Manager of the company, stipulates the finance of 50 internal scholarships worth RO 600,000 while the second agreement with Rima for Oil and Gas, represented by Dr Alan Peter Heyward, General Manager of the company, stipulates the finance of two scholarships each year for ten years. Al Jabri said that the criteria for the selection of students to these scholarships will be through the efforts of co-ordination with the Higher Education Admission Center (HEAC).