Any British Columbians who were youths in care in the province will have their tuition fees covered whenever theyB次元官网网址檙e ready to pursue post-secondary education.
The provincial government, at a press conference Tuesday, March 14, at NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Vancouver Island University, announced the expansion of the tuition waiver program. The waiver was previously available to former youths in care between the ages of 19 and 26, but starting Aug. 1, it will become available to former youths in care of any age.
Mallory Woods, a 25-year-old VIU student, said the waiver is B次元官网网址渓ike a love letter to potential students.B次元官网网址� When they were 16, they were living out of a recreational vehicle behind a pub, but now are close to graduating with the equivalent of a 4.0 grade point average. They plan on getting a masterB次元官网网址檚 degree in counselling and continue to advocate for youth services.
B次元官网网址淚 was a youth that was on a youth agreement and now IB次元官网网址檓 a young adult on a young adult agreement, but during those months when IB次元官网网址檓 not accessing that funding, if I have class, I have tuition and I would be unable to pay that,B次元官网网址� said Woods. B次元官网网址淚 work four jobs part-time, I do part-time studies, and it would not be possible for me to be here if I didnB次元官网网址檛 have the tuition waiver program.B次元官网网址�
With more than one million job openings expected in B.C. over the next 10 years, Selina Robinson, B.C. minister of post-secondary education, said the government wants to ensure all former youth in care can access post-secondary opportunities.
B次元官网网址淲e also know that education and skills training is the great equalizer that absolutely transforms lives and as part of our future-ready plan,B次元官网网址� the minister said. B次元官网网址淲e want to make sure that people who have been historically disadvantaged have the resources that they need to an education and go on to find meaningful well-paying jobs and careers that set them up for life-long success.B次元官网网址�
The waiver can be applied to degree, diploma and certificate programs, as well as apprenticeships and continuing education. Additional grants of up to $3,500 will also be available for education expenses such as textbooks and tech.
The province says approximately 1,900 students have benefited from the program since it began in 2017, with $13 million in tuition and fees waived over the years. The government calculates that the expansion of the program will cost $19.2 million over three years and support an additional 1,000-1,500 students.
READ ALSO:
karl.yu@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow Karl on and
