High school students in New Brunswick will need to have their own laptops when they return to classes in September.
Education minister Dominic Cardy says the learning environment is going to be different amid the COVID-19 pandemic and this is a shift to a more technology-based learning model.
The provincial government is investing $7 million to improve access to technology for everyone.
To help students from low and middle-income families buy a laptop, a subsidy program is being created with up to $600 available per student.
The eligibility criteria is outlined here:
- Households with an annual income of up to $40,000 will receive a voucher of $600 per student.
- Households with an annual income between $40,000 and $55,000 will receive a maximum voucher amount of $400 for their first student and $600 for each additional student.
- Households with an annual income between $55,000 and $70,000 will receive a maximum voucher amount of $200 for the first student, $400 for the second student and $600 for each additional student.
- Households with an annual income between $70,000 and $85,000 will receive a maximum voucher amount of $200 for the second student, $400 for the third student and $600 for each additional student.
Applications can be made through an online parent portal starting July 31.
Students will be allowed to use laptops or electronic devices they already own.
The province will also be spending $5 million to upgrade technology-related infrastructure to support the new learning model.
