Elizabeth Kent, South Yorkshire Socialist Party
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), abolished by the Tory-Lib Dem coalition in 2011, provided a weekly payment to students from lower-income households, and was a consistent and reliable form of financial support. Nowadays, very few college students receive discretionary bursaries granted by colleges themselves. Government bursaries are reserved for a small minority of young people living independently or disabled.
One advantage of EMA was its predictability. Students knew exactly how much they would receive each week, provided they met attendance and performance criteria. The up to £30-a-week payment allowed students to budget for essentials such as food, transport and study materials.
EMA acted as a strong incentive for attendance and commitment. EMA increased participation in post-16 education by around 4%, rising to up to 9% for the poorest students.
Students in Wales still get EMA and councils could reinstate EMA today, as the Aspire-led council in Tower Hamlets has done. As the cost of living continues to rise, many young people do not feel financially secure enough to pursue their education, instead going into employment to support themselves and their families.
We need councillors that will stand and fight for the young people in their areas. Implementing EMA, alongside reopening youth clubs, free public transport and more would go a long way to improving young people’s lives.
