Thu Sep 19 09:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Nova Scotia Student Loans and Grants Frozen for a Decade Despite Rising Costs
**Halifax, NS** – While tuition rates and the cost of living have skyrocketed in Nova Scotia, the maximum provincial student loan and grant amounts have remained stagnant since 2017, leaving students grappling with increased financial burdens.
According to data analyzed by CBC News, the maximum provincial loan for a 34-week program remains at $4,080, while the maximum grant stands at $2,720. These amounts have only been increased once since 2013, by 11%.
Nick d’Entremont, a fifth-year Dalhousie student and representative of the Dalhousie Student Union, highlights the significant strain this places on students. “Students are being forced to decide what they want to spend their money on,” he said, “whether it’s rent, tuition, groceries… They’re struggling to just be able to live.”
D’Entremont personally carries over $62,000 in student loans, a burden he expects to shoulder for a decade or more.
Adding to the financial pressure, the average domestic undergraduate tuition in Nova Scotia has increased by 57% since 2013, reaching $9,762 in the current academic year. This makes Nova Scotia’s tuition rates the highest in the country.
The Nova Scotia government did offer one-time grants between 2020 and 2023, with a needs-based grant of $1,350 reaching nearly 12,000 students last year. However, advocates like Prajwal Shetty of Students Nova Scotia argue that these temporary measures only highlight the need for a permanent solution. Shetty emphasizes the importance of shifting towards grants rather than loans, ensuring students graduate without crippling debt.
While the provincial government claims to be focused on reducing student debt, the stagnant maximum amounts for loans and grants raise questions about the effectiveness of their current measures.
The situation presents a stark contrast to the federal government’s efforts, which saw a temporary doubling of the maximum student grant to $6,000 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase was maintained for two years.
With post-secondary students in Nova Scotia graduating with among the highest debt in Canada, advocates are calling for a comprehensive review of the province’s student financial assistance program to ensure that students are not burdened with excessive debt and can contribute to the province’s future.
First Piper 