Swansea East Assembly Member Mike Hedges has today welcomed the positive difference the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme is having on thousands of students throughout Wales.
Mr Hedges’ comments come in light of a report from the children’s charity Barnardo’s, which highlighted that a lack of financial assistance and access is leading to many young people from financially challenged backgrounds in England being forced to drop out of further education. The report goes on to state that the UK Coalition Government’s alternative to the EMA scheme is “inadequate”, with a concerning number of young people skipping meals in order to travel to college.
The EMA scheme was first introduced in 2004 by the previous UK Labour Government to encourage financially disadvantaged students to stay in school or college by providing an incentive in return for good attendance.
Speaking from the Senedd, Mike Hedges AM said:
“As a former lecturer, I’m well aware of the positive difference financial assistance scheme like the Educational Maintenance Allowance and Assembly Learning Grant are providing students throughout Wales. I’m a great believer that a person’s financial situation and background should not affect their ability to access further or higher education.
“Today’s report from Barnardo’s demonstrates that the decision by the UK Coalition Government to scrap the EMA scheme in England was short-sighted and is having a dangerous knock-on impact on English students wishing to access further education and higher education. It’s appalling to think that some students have had to sacrifice meals in order to pay for travel to get to college.
“I’m very pleased that the Welsh Government have made a long term commitment towards protecting both the EMA scheme and ALG scheme for students in Wales. It’s tremendously important that students from disadvantaged families have the right encouragement and support to continue in education or training, which can dramatically help improve their prospects and life chances.”
In response to a question asked by Mike Hedges AM on 13/07/2011 in Plenary on the future of the student financial assistance schemes in Wales, Education & Skills Minister Leighton Andrews stated:
“This Government can stand proud on its record of supporting learners in further and higher education. We are keeping the education maintenance allowance in Wales, whereas England has attempted to cut it severely. Alongside the EMA, the Assembly learning grant and support for students with particular needs, such as those with disabilities or childcare responsibilities, we have put in place the fairest and most equitable tuition fee support ever available to full and part-time learners in higher education. We are committed to ensuring opportunities to enter higher learning and further education are open to all who can benefit from them, not just those who can pay.”
