By Spencer Sterritt

BC NDP waive post-secondary tuition fees for foster care youth

Sep 1, 2017 | 1:40 PM

NANAIMO — British Columbia’s tuition-waiver program is now available at every post-secondary school in the province for former youth in care.

Premier John Horgan, flanked by Melanie Mark, minister of advanced education, skills and training, and Katrine Conroy, minister of children and family development, made the announcement at VIU’s Nanaimo campus Friday morning.

VIU was the first univeristy in B.C. to offer the tuition-waiver and was one of 11 schools who had it before the announcement.

“We’re focusing on children in care today because of the groundbreaking work here at VIU and the leadership that was demonstrated to us by the child and representatives office,” Horgan told the crowd. “We’re in a position to make life better for youth who grew up without stability.”

To access the tuition-waiver program, students must be B.C. born, between 19 and 26-years-old and been in care for at least two years.

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The tuition-waiver program was instrumental for Jordanna Southall when she went to VIU in the bachelor of social work program after growing up in the foster care system.

“It was amazing. When I switched over to VIU (from the University of Victoria), it was the same year they introduced the tuition-waiver program. It kinda felt like fate. From there, I was ready to finish my schooling and start my career.”

Southall has worked as a social worker for child protection for the last two years.

Despite an upbringing she described as sometimes chaotic in the foster care system, Southall said she succeeded after getting into VIU through the help of her foster family and siblings and the school community.

“I think it’s important for kids to be able to overcome any barriers in foster care in a setting where not only is tuition waived but there’s supports like counsellors and community-networking with other children in care.”

Having a supportive community was also instrumental for Ruby Barclay, who also grew up in the foster care system and is now in her fourth year in VIU’s child and youth care program.

She said the expanded tuition-waiver program will help students realize their potential and thrive outside the system.

“This is more than important. This is someone’s life, it’s someone’s reality, it’s someone’s journey. It’s someone’s ability to access education so this is going to be instrumental in changing so many lives and building so many people up to be who they’re meant to be.”

Students who were in foster care and have already paid tuition for this year will be refunded. 

When asked about expanding the tuition-waiver program to all youth in need or suffering from poverty, Horgan said the BC NDP is working with various ministries to eliminate as many barriers to education as possible.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit