NASUWT COMMENTS ON LABOUR ANNOUNCEMENT ON STUDENT GRANTS AND EMA

Commenting on today’s announcement from the Labour Party that it will reinstate student grants and EMA support if it wins power at the next general election, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, said:

“Labour’s promise to reinstate student grants and EMA support would be a positive step in reversing the lack of investment in young people which has been driven by current Government policy.

“The EMA and maintenance grants were introduced to ensure young people from disadvantaged socio-economic households were able to overcome the financial barriers to staying in further and higher education.

“There is a wealth of evidence which shows participation in post-16 education increased when these grants were offered.

“Which is why it was scandalous when the Government decided to balance the books at the expense of those on whom the future economic success of this country depends, by scrapping these grants.

“The current bursary is not fit for purpose, and a move back to EMA support and maintenance grants is the only way to ensure all young people have the ability to take advantage of all education opportunities available to them.

“The Government claim to have great ambitions to achieve higher social mobility, yet its actions are yet to reflect this assertion.”