Education Minister Chester Gillan announced a new program today to assist students from lower income families with the cost of school activities and with access to computers in their homes.
The new $50,000 Equal Chances at Learning program will assist lower income families in two ways. First, funding will be made available to assist students with extra costs that come up during the school year, such as for field trips and outings. Secondly, it will provide lower income families with access to computers which are no longer being used by the schools.
"School activities such as field trips and outings are a very important part of a student's academic, social and cultural development," said the minister. "By assisting families with these extra or unexpected costs, we hope to enable more students to participate and to provide all students with a more equal chance at learning."
Each year, Island schools replace hundreds of computers which are in good working condition but no longer meet school requirements. Beginning this year, computers which are being replaced by the schools will be made available to lower income families. "Those students who have access to a home computer have a great advantage when it comes to the quality of their homework and assignments, and developing early computer skills," said Minister Gillan. "By recycling computers which are in good working condition, we hope to provide all students with a more equal chance at achieving success in school."
The Department of Education will be working closely with the school boards, the PEI Home and School Association, and the Fédération de parents de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard to develop eligibility criteria for the program, and an implementation and evaluation process. Information will be made available to families through the schools.