Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, announced that the Scottish Government is to use the £30 million to focus on increasing the income of the poorest students during the recession, including:
- a £2 million increase in the funds available to students with additional childcare costs;
- a grant for independent students;
- an increase in grants for the poorest students receiving the Young Students’ Bursary;
- an increase in the maximum level of the income-assessed student loan.
Liam Burns, NUS Scotland President, said that the increases in student income outlined in their response to Supporting a Smarter Scotland will go some way toward reducing students’ reliance on commercial debt.
“The £30 million made available by the Government was never going to be enough to address the issues facing hard-up students in Scotland,” he said “Some hard decisions have had to be made about the best use of these funds. We have proved that hardship and commercial debt are the most pressing concerns for students, and the Government have both recognised and responded to this with today’s options.
“We are extremely pleased with the move to support student parents, particularly in light of the problems with childcare funding experienced last year. We look forward to working with the Government over the next year to ensure this becomes an entitlement, and not the lottery students with children currently face.
“The new bursary for independent students is also a welcome move. Our research has shown that mature students are more likely to be debt averse than their younger counterparts, and this helps to encourage non-traditional students into higher education. We do, however, remain concerned about using the available funds to benefit those students who need it most, and will continue to work with the Government on the specifics of the support they are offering.”
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