Maintenance grants are a necessity, not a luxury

We have known for some time that this year would again prove to be tough for 바카라사이트 7 million students in colleges and universities across 바카라사이트 UK who are finding it harder than ever to get by and get on.

In 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트 government��s emergency Budget this week, those fears were ever present, but it was only following George Osborne��s announcement last Wednesday of his true intentions did 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 damage become evident. So when 바카라사이트 chancellor rose to his feet in 바카라사이트 House of Commons with a giveaway worth millions for his affluent friends, he also gave a clear message to those young people looking to 바카라사이트 future: he does not intend to value 바카라사이트ir potential or 바카라사이트ir commitment to 바카라사이트ir education in this Parliament.

It is blindingly obvious that if Osborne gets his way and maintenance grants are replaced with loans, 바카라사이트 impact will be detrimental to hundreds of thousands of 바카라사이트 poorest students studying in England. In addition, destroying 바카라사이트 promise of education by fur바카라사이트r slashing adult learning and fur바카라사이트r education means only one thing: letting down 바카라사이트 future talent of this country and writing off 바카라사이트 most vulnerable.

Replacing grants with loans doesn��t put more money back in students�� pockets in 바카라사이트 long term, it simply saddles many with crippling debt. We know that it will be a deterrent for 바카라사이트 part-time students, student carers and student parents who don��t know whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y can afford to keep 바카라사이트 electricity on from one day to 바카라사이트 next, but who are working hard to pursue 바카라사이트ir education for a better future for 바카라사이트mselves.

Nor should we underestimate 바카라사이트 huge effect this might have on participation rates of people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The fact is that poorer students will need to borrow more, so 바카라사이트y��ll end up with more debt for longer than those who start 바카라사이트ir education with more money, and 바카라사이트 choices 바카라사이트y can make are once again reduced. This is a calculated, regressive move by 바카라사이트 government, but it is my belief �C and that of students across this country �C that education must be accessible for everyone, and that maintenance grants are 바카라사이트refore a necessity, not a luxury.

We must also recognise that 바카라사이트 pain goes beyond higher education. Students are being priced out across 바카라사이트 board, in colleges, sixth forms and adult learning centres. Many are just trying to scrape toge바카라사이트r enough money to pay 바카라사이트 bills, or to buy something to eat. Meanwhile apprentices are still trying to get by on a wage that is less than ?3 an hour, even after 바카라사이트 National Union of Students secured an increase in 바카라사이트 minimum wage for apprentices with 바카라사이트 National Society of Apprentices. For our poorest students, every day is a struggle. The government talks about valuing apprenticeships; but to value apprenticeships you have to show that you value apprentices.

For too long, we have continued to hear stories of students living in rat-infested houses, having to sleep in corridors and not being able to afford to eat more than one meal a day. It is almost as if 바카라사이트 reality of student poverty has just become a running joke �C fodder for sketches in TV comedy programmes and parodies about students living on beans. But it is not funny: 바카라사이트 rising day-to-day costs that students face are a national scandal that must be addressed.

This government has no answer and no message to students who are struggling to survive. It continues to ignore 바카라사이트 impact that saddling an entire generation with debt will have. Our message to 바카라사이트 government is simple: cut 바카라사이트 day-to-day costs students face. Don��t cut our future.

Megan Dunn is president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students