Free Menstrual Products Available in Schools

Public school students across the province will now have access to free menstrual products when they need them.

“No student should have to go to school worrying where or how they will access menstrual products," Zach Churchill, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “Students should be able to focus on learning. This is one less thing they have to worry about.”

Universal access to menstrual products in schools means putting the well-being of students first. Many schools across the province already make these products available. Soon, all schools with grades four and up will make them accessible to their students.

Each school will decide how and where these products will be made available. All schools will be provided posters that include a blank space, where they can fill in where students can find these products.

Quotes:

“We know access to menstrual products can be a barrier for many students. We also know that sometimes, you might forget to plan ahead, or find yourself in an emergency. No matter what the reason, this is one less thing students need to think about.”

– Kelly Regan, Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women

“Many students sometimes leave school if they don’t have these products with them, which could then affect their education, their attendance and overall success at school, all because of a natural thing every month. It is important for schools to make these products free so that no student ever, has to worry about not being able to afford them, or having to leave school because of this.”

– Aya Ali, student with the Halifax West Health Action Team

Quick Facts:

• menstrual products will be available in 367 schools with grades four and up
• there are about 40,000 students between grades four and 12 who could potentially access these products