Words by Abi Scaife
The US just announced it will forgive an additional $1.2 billion in student loan debt.
That means that 35,000 public-sector workers will benefit from the loan forgiveness - and it makes the current US government the one that has forgiven the most student debt in history.
With this most recent round of debt forgiveness, more than $168 billion in student debt has been forgiven for nearly 4.8 million people.
Current President Biden said, in a statement: “From day one of my administration, I promised to fight to ensure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity. I will never stop working to make higher education affordable.”
The cost of university tuition, student loans and the associated interest and debts have a huge eimpact on the economy, and on how people move through society. It disproportionately impacts people from minority groups and low income families, and often prevents people from accessing higher income career tracks.
Student loan forgiveness is something huge that governments can do for their people, and the US is joining other countries like Canada and Australia in making it easier for students to access higher education.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Their World. This charity aims to help every child have a fulfilling education. Learn more here.
Right to Succeed. This charity supports communities in areas of high deprivation to give children and young people the best start in life. Support them here.
The World Literacy Foundation. This is a global non-profit organization striving to ensure that every child, regardless of geographic location, has the opportunity to acquire literacy skills. Find out more.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Decent Work and Economic Growth and Quality Education.
