The provincial government will give around 13,000 post-secondary students a one-time non-repayable grant to help them deal with unanticipated costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Students Nova Scotia raised the issue of rising costs associated with at-home learning the province came up with the COVID-19 Response Grant.
“We know many students are facing additional financial challenges due to COVID-19,” said Minister of Labour and Advanced Education Lena Metlege Diab. “This grant will help provide extra funding support and ensure students who are most in need can continue to receive the quality education they deserve.”
The grants will be given to students who have already received money from Nova Scotia Student Assistance in 2020-21. Anyone who qualifies as such will not need to apply either as the grant will be automatically distributed.
Funds should start arriving in students’ bank accounts as early as December but the government estimates for some it could take until Spring.
Based on the province’s estimate of around 13,000 students being eligible the program should cost the province around $975,000.
