KAMLOOPS— After years of campaigning the BC government’s 2020 Budget has students and their families excited about the introduction of an up-front, need-based student grants program. The BC Access Grant is the first of its kind in BC in nearly two decades, and will help reduce student loan debt for thousands of British Columbians every year.
“We are very excited for our members and their families. We have been working for over ten years for this day. Need based grants are a crucial part of the student financial aid system and the most effective way of supporting students and their families,” said Kole Lawrence, Vice President External of the Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union. “This announcement will go a long way in helping BC students get their foot in the door and complete the post secondary education that can change their lives and help our province.”
“With tuition fees at an all-time high, student debt in BC continues to grow as students and their families struggle to afford the education they need to enter the workforce,” said Tanysha Klassen, Chairperson of the BC Federation of Students (BCFS). “The BC Access Grant will help students access not only four-year programs, but certificate and diploma programs that are key for many aspects of the workforce.”
The BC Access Grant will be $41 million annually, which is projected to assist 40,000 students each year; it will be funded through a combination of reinvestments of existing assistance measures and new investment of $24 million over three years. Complementing the Canada Access Grant, the BC Access Grant will ensure eligible students receive as much as $4,000 in non-repayable financial aid in each year of their studies.
The Thompson Rivers University Student’ Union represents the 10,000 students who study at Thompson Rivers University.
For more information contact:
| Kole Lawrence Vice President External k.lawrence@trusu.ca 250.828.5289 |
Leif Douglass Campaigns Coordinator campaigns@trusu.ca 250.828.5289 |
