Every country will agree to the fact that the women require adequate education to move ahead in life, especially the mothers. Single mothers have special needs as they are the only support to their family and kids. Money, time and confidence are three obstacles in their path to acquire education. Canada, like any other country, has identified these problems and hence, has started college grants for single mothers in Canada.
The Canadian government realizes the problems faced by single mothers and has started various grants to help the mothers cope with the problems by providing required education for them. Like in the United States, to apply for federal grants in Canada, one needs to apply it through the FAFSA center. The FAFSA is an online center set up for receiving the applications for the federal and state grants. The applicants usually need to submit their previous year tax records as it is the eligibility criterion for receiving the grants.
The latest feature regarding the college grants for single mothers is the Canada Student Grants program (CSGP) which has clubbed the various federal student grants into a single program and is earnestly trying to reach out to single mothers who like to pursue their studies. This new program helped 245,000 students in the academic year 2009-2010 and is very easy to apply for. Some of the grants under this program have been listed below:
1) Canada Student Grant for Persons from Low-Income Families: This grant provides $ 250 per month to students of low-income household who also are eligible for a federal student loan, and is available to undergraduate and college school program.
2) Canada Student Grant for Persons from Middle-Income Families: As the name suggests, this is granted to a middle-income class student also qualifying for a federal loan. The selected student will receive $ 100 per month of study.
3) Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities: This grant is only for those students who are handicapped or crippled. The state offers $ 2000 every academic year for these students to cover their education costs and tuitions.
4) Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities: Those handicapped students who face exclusive expenses for interpreters or tutors are provided $ 8000 annually from the state.
5) Canada Student Grant for Persons with Dependents: This grant is exclusive for mothers. $ 200 per month of study is provided to them for each child which they have under 12 years of age.
6) Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependents: This is for single mothers who are pursuing part-time education. For every child under 12 years of age, the single mother is entitled to $ 40 per week of study. Single mothers with three or more children are entitled for $ 60 per week.
7) Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies: This scholarship is only for part-time students. The state grants up to $ 1200 per school year for the eligible part-time students.
The Government of Canada is very keen on its CSGP and realizes the marked changes this program has brought about in the lives of the deserving students, who are only held back due to the financial crisis. College grants for single mothers in Canada is becoming a reality and this can observed from the improved lives of the mothers.