One in seven 'would leave if EMA is cut'

January 18 2011

One in seven Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) recipients would leave if their financial support was cut.

This is according to a survey carried out by the University and College Union, which was conducted across 30 sixth form centres and colleges.

The poll revealed that more than a third of EMA recipients would not have started their course if they had not been receiving the allowance.

Of those surveyed, 63 per cent said they do not get any financial support from their family towards their college costs.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, urged the coalition to listen to the "many voices" inside and outside parliament who believe that scrapping EMA is wrong.

"Getting rid of this allowance will ensure that many young people will not be able to afford to continue in further education. This is essential funding that means higher and further education is a goal to which all, not just the well off, can aspire to. To axe it will be a great social injustice," she added.

Speaking before the election, prime minister David Cameron said he would not scrap EMA if the Conservatives came to power. However, it was announced last year that the government now plans to withdraw this support.

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