The Scottish Budget has now been announced and unlike its UK equivalent, the Scottish budget is mostly good news for students. As well as saving the EMA it also protected student places at colleges and universities across Scotland. Keith Brown, Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning, has sent a letter to NUS Scotland outlining the Government’s reasons for keeping the EMA which is in full below.
While the budget has good news, the bad news is a proposed real terms cut for college bursaries for the poorest students of 1.9% (or over £1.5m in real terms). In each of the last three years bursary funds for the poorest college students in Scotland has run out at a number of colleges across Scotland. Rather than making cuts to the financial help the poorest students get, student support needs to be substantially increased in Scotland.
Ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections, NUS Scotland will be campaigning to improve funding for bursaries and other student elements of student support.
Liam Burns, President of NUS Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government’s decision to save the EMA shows what can be done when we make our priorities clear to politicians ahead of the parliamentary election next May. In private and public discussions we made clear that saving the EMA was crucial and it shows what can be done when students across Scotland work together.
“Saving EMA is very good news for Scotland. However, the decision to make a real-terms cut to college bursaries is very disappointing. While the level of cuts was out of the hands of the Scottish Government where they decided to wield the axe was not. Taking money out of the poorest college students’ pockets is simply unacceptable and we will work very hard to reverse this decision.
“Education in Scotland is not free, and certainly not fair. Our poorest students are paying through the nose in terms of credit card debt, working too many paid hours, and in the most extreme cases dropping out. We need a support system which supports students properly through their studies so that education is based on ability, not ability to pay.
“Saving EMA and protecting places is very good news. However, we will fight over the coming months, throughout the budget discussions, and ahead of the Scottish elections, to reverse this cut and fight for real support.”
Keith Brown, Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning
“The major pressures on the public purse meant that some very tough decisions had to be made in drawing up the budget earlier this month. We had to concentrate on spending that will help drive the economy, now and in the future.
“That is why I am delighted that colleges and universities have agreed to preserve the same number of core places next year.
“This focus is also the reason why we have protected the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), maintaining access and levels of payment, despite it being scrapped down south.
“By helping young people aged 16 to 19 years old who would not otherwise be able to stay on at school or attend college, we are making a direct investment in Scotland’s future.
“We listened to the National Union of Students in Scotland (NUS Scotland) and their support for scheme and we listened to young people and their parents.
“For many young people from low income families, the need for that extra bit of support is a major factor when they are deciding whether to stay on at school or apply for college. We know that the EMA scheme helps thousands of young people to stay in learning and develop their skills and knowledge for the end result of far greater job opportunities.
“This is why we will ensure that every young person in Scotland who is entitled to EMA support receives it. By continuing support such as the EMA, the Scottish Government has ensured every student from school, college or university can access learning based on the ability to learn and not the ability to pay.”