Hardship Fund for Learners gets $20 million boost

<h2 class&equals;"intro"><strong>Tertiary<&sol;strong> learners who are facing hardship due to the result of Covid-19 restrictions have help at hand&comma; after a &dollar;20 million funding boost was announced by the Government&period; <&sol;h2>&NewLine;<p>The Minisrty of Education announced&comma; &&num;8220&semi;This additional funding will allow tertiary education organisations to address current need&comma; and provides cover in case of future COVID-19 restrictions&comma; including into the start of 2022&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;Minister Hipkins has directed the Tertiary Education Commission to work with learner representatives and provider groups to make sure that learners know about and can access this support&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The Hardship Fund for Learners is to be paid out to providers that supports learner to access funding&period; It can be used for technology-related costs where COVID-19 restrictions remove the options for face-to-face study&comma; for example&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The Government has also made a change to ensure student living support payments can continue for students unable to study online for an extended period as a result of the impacts of COVID-19&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;These changes&comma; coupled with the support MSD can already offer&comma; support tertiary learners facing hardship due to COVID-19 restrictions&comma;&&num;8221&semi; said the MoE&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;