Ana Paula De Lima Ayub, an international Grade 12 student from Sorocaba, Brazil, joined program manager John MacKinnon for a presentation to Yarmouth municipal council on Oct. 12.
The Nova Scotia International Student Program (NSISP) has grown over that time, program manager John MacKinnon told Yarmouth municipal council in an Oct. 12 presentation. It provides benefits in many different ways, including economically.
The NSISP has collected over $12.3 million in student tuition. Schools that receive international students are funded $100/month/student. This can amount to tens of thousands annually for some. The money is spent locally in the schools for services and educational resources.
In addition, host families in the Yarmouth area receive a stipend for each international student. These funds help the local economy by purchasing food, heating, transportation and other items families that host teens require.
Students are asked to budget $400 per month for additional costs like transportation, entertainment, clothes, food, gifts, etc.
The Tri-County Regional School Board is the largest per capita participant in the NSISP, hosting around 180 long-term students annually. Students from 19 countries are attending Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School. Provincially, 27 countries are participating in the program.
“In Nova Scotia, students at high school levels can learn about the world, not through books and the Internet but through friends,” said MacKinnon.
The reason students come is because “Nova Scotia is different,” he said.
Because the vast majority of the population speaks English, the environment is more conducive for international students to learn the language. Once placed with host families, they become a member of not only the family, but of the community too.
“What holds us back are homestays. It’s our greatest limiting factor,” said MacKinnon. “We’re always looking for homes and we’re always looking for activities. We want to create the best possible experience for students.”
Learn more
For more information about the Nova Scotia International Student Program click here.
