Education plans spark protest

Kanja Sesay, Black Student Officer for the National Union of Students writes today for OBV about the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) ahead of the Parliamentary debate about scrapping it.

What is the EMA?

The Education Maintenance Allowance is a means-tested allowance of £10-£30 which is given to 16-19 years old student who stay on in education. This scheme was rolled out nationally in 2004, the impact that has had over the years cannot be easily quantified but on a basic level it is there to support students to purchase books, travel and equipment. However, for the vast majority of students EMA is a lifeline.

A recent survey by the NUS indicated that over ‘55% of all recipients rising to 59% are receiving the full amount of £30 weekly allowance stating that they could not continue in further education’ without it. In this current crisis and the impact EMA has on the education system, we believe it should be improved instead of being cut.

The dependence on EMA cannot be underestimated. The survey also indicated that 76% of learners would have had to take on more hours for part-time work, without the support of EMA. Students would need to spend more hours away from their studies which would have a negative impact on attainment of these learners. Furthermore, this study states that ‘40% of learners continue to report that EMA does not cover their essential costs’; this is mostly true for learners especially in the London area where travel cost for a weekly travel card are in excess of £26 and above. Times are getting hard under the current government because of these rushed and ideologically driven cuts it’s the poor in our society will continue to struggle.

We have already seen the biggest attack on the most vulnerable in society, in the tripling of tuition fees, the VAT increase, the savage attack on the Welfare State, and now the cutting of the EMA. This is nothing but an extension of the attack on the younger generation in this country. Without EMA students will be left with no choice but to find ways to support themselves in education that will be detrimental to their potential. The NUS survey found that ‘one-fifth of the poorest learners rely on commercial borrowing to help make up the difference’, what will happen when EMA is taken away?

Why EMA is essential for Black students?

Child poverty rates in this country are higher for Black young people; the EMA is vital, as it provides additional income, and research has shown the impact the EMA has on participation, retention and attainment is greater for Black students

Research has shown that EMA has had a positive impact on retention rates which have seen an increase of 4% in urban arrears and 7% in rural areas. As a result of EMA Black females ‘participation in education at age 17 was increase by 4.7%’. The majority of Black students study in further education - so the impact of the loss of the EMA will disproportionately disadvantage Black students. The scrapping of the EMA would send a strong signal to the younger generation that this government is willing to disregard their education.

The assumption that EMA is waste of public resources and learners spend it on trainers and other none essential items, is false and should be dropped. If you speak to a recipient of EMA you would find that the impact it has on their lives is enormous. If we truly believe in the future of this country and the power of young people we must support them in any way we can.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" Nelson Mandela

Kanja Sesay