As 600,000 young people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, receive their GCSE results, the National Union of Students (NUS) has today warned many young people will find their options severely limited as further education becomes less affordable and training and employment opportunities shrink.
The publication of GCSE results today comes as government statistics reveal that nearly 1 million UK 16 to 24 year olds are not in education, employment or training (NEETS) and the one-third of 16-18 who would have received Education Maintenance Allowance prepare for the first school year without it.
NUS said the evidence base for scrapping EMA had been weak and that the policy had been poorly thought through. The Government's decision has been called into question by organisations including the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), the OECD, two parliamentary select committees, students and teachers,
Toni Pearce, NUS Vice President (Further Education) said:
“When job opportunities are so thin on the ground it is highly irresponsible of the Government to scrap EMA which was an effective way of supporting young people to gain skills and education.”
“The government’s policy on EMA and the shaky evidence used to support it has been called into such question that ministers must now do the responsible thing and think again before it is too late.”
“The paltry discretionary learner support fund is a shadow of EMA, providing just a fraction of the financial support and subjecting students in need of support to a postcode lottery.”
Throughout the day we will be updating our website with where to find advice and guidance following your G.C.S.E results.