Canada Student Grants will soon be adjusted to accommodate those with both low and middle-class income
Photo courtesy of Flickr user The Commonwealth
Paying post-secondary tuition fees just got easier. As announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on April 7, the federal government of Canada will be “expanding the eligibility of Canada Student Grants for students from low- and middle-income families to include short-term programs.”
The old way of determining eligibility for Canada Student Grants is said to leave out an increasing number of training courses that, while shorter, still prepare a student for jobs that are available now.
As laid out in a government press release, beginning in 2016-2017, Canada Student Grantswill be made to include low-income and middle-income students enrolled in educational programs with a minimum duration of 34 weeks.
“Not having the financial means should not be a barrier to a promising student, nor should arbitrary distinctions between occupations based only upon the time it takes to train for them,” explains Prime Minister Harper when he announced the future eligibility expansion. “Canadians across the country will have more access to the skills and training they need to get good jobs and succeed in the job market.”
Jessica McCormick, national chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) does not believe these changes to the Canada Student Grants program will create that access.In a CFS media release, McCormick cites the findings of two CFS reports respectively entitled The Impacts of Debt and Student Financial Assistance in Canada: Complicated, Inefficient and Ineffective.
“All students deserve access to high quality public post-secondary education, including those studying in short-term professional programs,” argues McCormick.
Created by the federal government in 2009, the Canada Student Grants program had its eligibility requirements adjusted in 2012-2013. According to official government figures, the last adjustment saw a 6.1 per cent increase among the number of students who received grants.
It is expected there will be a similar increase in grant recipients when these new eligibility requirements are implemented.
