Decision to scrap Education Maintenance Allowance ¡®ill thought through¡¯

The Education Select Committee said today that 바카라사이트 decision last October to close 바카라사이트 ?560 million scheme, which provides means-tested grants of up to ?30 a week, was ¡°rushed and ill-thought through¡±.

The decision was met with widespread protests, and 바카라사이트 government did not release details of 바카라사이트 ?180 million bursary fund that is to replace 바카라사이트 EMA until March, while funding allocations to colleges were not made until June.

The select committee said this was ¡°far too late to allow Year 11 students to make fully informed decisions¡± about courses starting next academic year, adding that 바카라사이트 delay ¡°was regrettable and should not have been allowed to happen¡±.

However, despite its criticisms, 바카라사이트 committee said it accepted that savings had to be made.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Department for Education told 바카라사이트 BBC it was ¡°pleased¡± that 바카라사이트 committee ¡°acknowledges 바카라사이트 government's rationale for closing 바카라사이트 very expensive and centralised EMA scheme¡±.

The University and College Union said that last year, over 600,000 students received 바카라사이트 EMA.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said: ¡°We are pleased 바카라사이트 select committee has acknowledged 바카라사이트 complete mess 바카라사이트 government has made of 바카라사이트 EMA¡­The government needs to listen to 바카라사이트 select committee, which actually took 바카라사이트 time to properly analyse 바카라사이트 EMA¡¯s impact on retention and attainment¡­Ignorance is always more expensive than education and unless 바카라사이트 government looks again at 바카라사이트 help for our poorest teenagers 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 state will be hit with a higher benefit payments bill.¡±

john.gill@tsleducation.com