Eleanor Burnham AM: Why are students still waiting for their Education Maintenance Allowance?
10.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th May 2009
Figures out today reveal that 2610 students in post-16 education are still waiting for their Education Maintenance Allowance when they should have started receiving their payments back in September, at the beginning of the 08/09 academic year.
Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for North Wales is furious that the Labour/Plaid coalition Government has failed to ensure that thousands of young people remain in post -16 education in Wales.
Commenting Eleanor said:
"Here we are eight months since the start of the academic year and over 2500 students have not received their Education Maintenance Allowance.
"Two weeks ago, the Education Minister admitted that there were problems with the processing of these applications and that she had instructed officials from other departments to come and help process the loans. We are nearing the end of the academic year and students still have received their payments.
"This scheme was designed to provide cash incentive to keep students from low-income families to remain in full-time education. It is essential that this backlog be dealt with as soon as possible to ensure that students remain in full time education.
"Wales needs a skilled workforce to boost the economy and this money could be vital in deciding if students remain in full-time education or not."
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