Let children of international students go to school, immigration groups tell province

Dozens of children whose parents are international students at private colleges can’t attend school, according to a pair of New Brunswick non-profit groups that support immigrants.

Hola New Brunswick and Moncton Cares called for the province to grant those children access to education in a letter to Minister of Education and Early Child Development Dominic Cardy on Friday.

Fifty-three children are currently affected, according to the letter. “This number will continue to grow in the coming weeks if an immediate solution to the situation is not found,” it states.

That number has already grown compared to last month, when the two groups previously wrote to Cardy about the issue.

They cited regulations under the New Brunswick Education Act indicating that children of people “legally admitted to Canada” with a permit to work in New Brunswick may receive free schooling.

However, parents with federally-issued work permits who attend private colleges have found their children are not granted access to school, according to the groups.

“One month has now passed since the school year commenced, and while we fail to bring forth a solution that grants access to school for these children, they remain at home, are not able to integrate into society, receive education, or make friends in their new home country, province, city or town who all publicly claim to welcome and appreciate them,” the most recent letter states.

“It is important to mention that while the children remain at home, parents cannot work in this province – with an unprecedented labour shortage – and they cannot generate income or comply with attendance at academic programs which have set timelines and have been paid in full. This ongoing situation disrupts the dynamics of daily life and the financial stability of newcomer families.”

The NB Media Co-op has reached out to the Department of Education for comment.