IMPACT OF ENDING OF EDUCATION MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE ON LEICESTER STUDENTS

That this House is concerned about the impact of the Government's decision to scrap the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for 16 to 18 year olds in further education; recognises the role the EMA plays in helping young people from some of the most disadvantaged homes to stay in education; notes that 75 per cent. of those enrolled at Gateway Sixth Form College in Leicester East currently receive the weekly grant of up to 30 and a total of 6,557 young people received the EMA in Leicester City in 2009-10; further notes the concern of teachers and head teachers in Leicester's schools that the loss of this direct payment could lead to a significant drop in the numbers of young people enrolling in further education; urges the Government to recognise the positive impact of the EMA; and calls on the Government to reconsider its plans to scrap the EMA.