Image
Summary
A new program will see students living on the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations given transit passes to remove transportation costs that may cause a barrier to attendance at schools.
All Grade 9 to Grade12 students living within those nations will receive a U-PASS, which provides unlimited access on all Victoria Regional Transit routes from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31.
This program is a result of the BC Tripartite Education Agreement between the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia and the First Nations Education Steering Committee.
The program is funded by the First Nation Student Transportation Fund, which is paid by the federal government to the provincial government, and allocated by the Ministry of Education to boards of education.
“Transportation is a critical element of access to education,” said Board Chair Jordan Watters. The goal, he said, is to eliminate the transportation barriers that might prevent high school-aged youth living on the Songhees and Esquimalt reserves from attending school.
“We look forward to seeing increased student participation and having more learners in our classrooms.”
The U-Pass program came into effect as a pilot project for the months of May and June and will be in full implementation in September.
“Improving the learning outcomes of our on-reserve students is a high priority for the Nation,” said Francine L’Hirondelle, director of Education Services at Songhees Nation.
“This is fantastic news for the Songhees and Esquimalt Nation youth. The U-PASS program will ensure more students are able to get to school safely and reliably,” said MLA for Esquimalt Metchosin Mitzi Dean. “It will also make it easier for youth to attend extra-curricular activities and access services in our community.”