Students Nova Scotia Applauds COVID-19 Response Grant
Students Nova Scotia Applauds COVID-19 Response Grant
December 7, 2020
For Immediate Release
Halifax, NS - Today, the Government of Nova Scotia announced the introduction of a one-time, $750 non-repayable COVID-19 Response grant for Nova Scotia Student Assistance recipients to acknowledge the increased costs related to postsecondary education during the pandemic. Students Nova Scotia applauds this investment, which we highlighted during our annual Advocacy Week in November.
The majority of universities, as well as NSCC, have been administering courses online this year due to COVID-19. With 43% of Nova Scotians living in rural communities, access to reliable high speed internet has been a major challenge for students, often forcing them to move out of their communities or pay for expensive upgrades in order to continue their education. Similarly, students have had to buy both hardware, such as laptops or tablets, and software (or mandatory online course companions) out of pocket.
“Students Nova Scotia has been keen to highlight how online courses have financially impacted students most in need”, says Samantha Graham, Chair of Students Nova Scotia. “Many students were used to relying on on-campus internet services or computer labs; for most students, these options disappeared when courses moved online. This grant will compensate students in the most financial need for the additional costs they had to take on in order to pursue postsecondary education.”
The additional costs associated with technology upgrades come during a year where students faced a record high unemployment rate of 29.4% in May, coupled with the disappearance of seasonal positions that students use to support themselves financially during the academic year. The introduction of non-repayable aid to assist with unanticipated costs associated with online learning is a welcome initiative that will help students who have been struggling.
“I live in Beaconsfield, which is an hour away from NSCC Kingstec where I study”, says Daniel Abbott, Students Nova Scotia Board Member and President of the NSCC Kingstec Student Association. “I have been travelling an hour both ways to access on-campus internet, just to attend class virtually or submit assignments. Those costs add up, and I’m glad to see the Government of Nova Scotia acknowledging these barriers and compensating students for the additional burden”.
Students Nova Scotia is the province’s largest student advocacy organization, representing students who have been studying both in-person and online this semester. StudentsNS has advocated for the introduction of the COVID-19 Response rant and are pleased to see today’s announcement.
For more information, contact:
Clancy McDaniel
StudentsNS Executive Director
director@studentsns.ca
(902) 476-2367