The Socialist 3 March 2010

Fighting for jobs, services and conditions

PCS: All Out to Defend Jobs and Services

Stop council cuts

Invest in jobs, education & Training

Cut the working hours, not the jobs!

Portsmouth students and workers unite to fight cuts

Brighton students say: Save our nursery

EMA inadequacy impacts badly on students

Building action across Europe

Greece - millions take part in general strike

Spain: Thousands join mass demonstrations

The fairytale world of RBS

Nationalise the energy giants

Activists launch socialist challenge

Walsgrave hospital Coventry: Stop the parking charges rip-off

Fast news

Where is the BA cabin crew dispute going?

Smash the bosses' construction blacklist!

Leeds lecturers win concessions - but cuts remain to be fought

Workplace news: In brief

Unison general secretary election: Nominate Roger Bannister

Legal ruling exposes hypocrisy of Unison leadership

FBU general secretary speaks to The Socialist

Women will be at the fore in the fightback!

Global media monster News International condemned

The hounding of Tommy Sheridan

Savage cuts planned at the Beeb

Supporters should own Pompey, not developers

The worldwide thievery of big business

Previous issues, etc

Print this issue




Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/614/8949

Google search the site	Printable version	email to friend

Home | The Socialist 3 March 2010 | Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe | Donate | Bookshop

EMA inadequacy impacts badly on students

A MAJOR issue for a lot of students studying at college level is funding. At the moment, 16-18 year-olds living in low-income households are entitled to a maximum of £30 a week Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

Christopher Rawlinson, Southampton Socialist Students

Supposedly, this encourages students to stay in education by helping them cover both day-to-day costs and the purchase of educational material.

The reality, however, is that it's practically impossible to pay for travel, buy all the necessary textbooks and contribute to food and household bills on £30 a week, meaning that most students have to spend their weekends working long shifts at part-time jobs on a meagre wage in order to pay their way.

The government itself recognises that £30 a week is far from enough to cover even the cost of living. This is evidenced by the (also pitiful) amount given to people claiming Jobseekers Allowance.

Anybody aged 16-24 claiming JSA is entitled to up to £50.95 a week, with extra money often given to cover expenses related to the search for employment (travel to interviews, clothing for interviews, etc.).

Despite this, the government seems to think that students, with their extra costs and less time for part-time work, are capable of living on £20 less than the unemployed.

Even those students with part-time jobs have trouble making ends meet due to the ridiculous wages they are paid. The minimum wage in this country for under-18s is a pathetic £3.57 an hour.

To put this in perspective, a single ticket on a Wilts & Dorset bus costs £3.70.

Anybody under 18 years of age is going to have to work at least two hours just to cover the cost of travel there and back (assuming their place of work is only one bus journey away).

If we take into account travel costs, the cost of lunch and the lowly wage, the student is making very little whilst sacrificing important revision and leisure time.

Most students recognise the financial problems faced by those in full-time education, but at present few do more than grumble about the injustice of it.

It is imperative that students resolve these issues is by uniting and taking action themselves.

With talk of a rise in university tuition fees, the planned termination of EMA bonuses and almost a million 16-24 year-olds unable to find work, action must be taken immediately.

In this issue

Fighting for jobs, services and conditions