$12.1 million in financial aid to Laval students in 2006-2007

To be precise, 1,731 were issued loans ($8m) and 1,061 benefited from the bursaries ($4.1m). The bursaries are ‘gifts’ and need not be repaid by recipients. The figures were made public by the Quebec Ministry of Education in a report tabled last month.

Compared with 2005-2006, the allocations were more generous, rising to $4.1m from $3.7m. The loans, however, dropped from $8.9m in 2005-2006 to $8.1m in 2006-2007.

On balance, 2005-2006 was a better year for Laval recipients of loans and bursaries who shared $12.6m, $500,000 more than what the government disbursed in 2006-2007, at $12.1m.

"Because of the increases in tuition fees, the allocations for loans and bursaries have had to be adjusted upwards," explains Ahissia Ahua, communications agent for the Department of Education.

Loans and bursaries are not exclusive to college and university students. Many students in professional and vocational studies also draw from the fund, with 1448 of these choosing Laval as a base of study.

Figures for 2006-2007 reveal that this group shared $5.3m in loans and $2.6m in bursaries.

The bursaries envelope for these students enjoyed a slight increase over the previous year (2005-2006) which had 604 students sharing $2.4m compared with 600 and $2.6 m in 2006-2007.

"For them, professional studies are an opportunity to learn a trade in just a few months and financial aid is essential to their success. Their living expenses (food, shelter, clothing) do not change just because they are pursuing studies," Mrs. Charbonneau explains.

The CSDL provides its own aid to these students, especially in matters related to budgeting and effective money management.

It remains to be seen what impact the lifting of the tuition fees freeze has had on the loans and bursaries program for the just concluded school year. The government report on the facts and figures for 2007-2008 will only be tabled in 2009.

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(Photo: Martin Alarie)