Any British Columbians who were youths in care in the province will have their tuition fees covered whenever they91裸聊视频檙e ready to pursue post-secondary education.
The provincial government, at a press conference Tuesday, March 14, at Nanaimo91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渓ike a love letter to potential students.91裸聊视频� 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 master91裸聊视频檚 degree in counselling and continue to advocate for youth services.
91裸聊视频淚 was a youth that was on a youth agreement and now I91裸聊视频檓 a young adult on a young adult agreement, but during those months when I91裸聊视频檓 not accessing that funding, if I have class, I have tuition and I would be unable to pay that,91裸聊视频� said Woods. 91裸聊视频淚 work four jobs part-time, I do part-time studies, and it would not be possible for me to be here if I didn91裸聊视频檛 have the tuition waiver program.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淲e also know that education and skills training is the great equalizer that absolutely transforms lives and as part of our future-ready plan,91裸聊视频� the minister said. 91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�
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.
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