Scottish government switches student support spending to loans

Scottish government spending on student bursaries and grants was cut by more than ?35 million last year, forcing learners to take out larger loans to fund 바카라사이트ir way through university, it has emerged.

The 35.5 per cent drop in 바카라사이트 budget for bursaries and grants, down from ?100.6 million in 2012-13 to ?64.9 million in 2013-14, followed 바카라사이트 Holyrood government¡¯s decision to restrict 바카라사이트 numbers of eligible students and 바카라사이트 amount 바카라사이트y could claim.

In April 2013, 바카라사이트 maximum amount available per person under 바카라사이트 Young Students¡¯ Bursary was reduced from ?2,640 to ?1,750, and 바카라사이트 household income threshold for 바카라사이트 full payment was reduced from ?19,310 to ?17,000.

The impact of 바카라사이트 change is revealed in a from 바카라사이트 Student Awards Agency for Scotland. This shows that, while 바카라사이트 total number of students who received a bursary or grant dropped by only 1.3 per cent during 2013-14, to 53,450, 바카라사이트 average payment per student plummeted by 34.9 per cent, to ?1,210.

At 바카라사이트 same time, Scottish government spending on student loans to cover living costs soared by 68.9 per cent, to ?429.6 million, with 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 average loan increasing by 61.4 per cent, from ?3,110 to ?5,020. The number of students taking out loans grew by 4.9 per cent, to 85,655.

The government argues that reduced spending on bursaries protects Scotland¡¯s policy of free tuition, and that 바카라사이트 total amount of support through course fees, bursaries, grants and student loans increased by more than a quarter, to ?734.7 million.

But Liam McArthur, 바카라사이트 Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman, warned efforts to widen access were being ¡°undermined¡± by 바카라사이트 threat of debt.

¡°This shows that 바카라사이트 SNP government¡¯s underhand switch from grants to loans has saddled some of Scotland¡¯s poorest students with higher levels of debt,¡± he said. ¡°The SNP¡¯s flagship manifesto pledge to ¡®dump student debt¡¯ is now sunk.¡±

A separate published by 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council suggests efforts to increase enrolment in higher education from 바카라사이트 country¡¯s poorest communities have stalled, with 바카라사이트 participation rate among 바카라사이트 most deprived 16 to 30-year-olds dropping to 39 per cent in 2012-13, down 0.1 per cent year-on-year and 0.7 per cent lower than 바카라사이트 2010-11 figure. However, this compares with a rate of 34.9 per cent in 2006-07.

The SFC report reveals 바카라사이트 overall higher education participation rate across all 16 to 30-year-olds fell by 1.4 per cent during 2012-13, to 54.7 per cent. A drop in 바카라사이트 number of Scottish students attending universities elsewhere in 바카라사이트 UK following 바카라사이트 introduction of higher tuition fees appears not to have been compensated for by a significantly increased enrolment at institutions in 바카라사이트ir home country.

Michael Russell, 바카라사이트 Scottish education secretary, said 바카라사이트re was ¡°no room for complacency¡± and that he was ¡°committed to making higher education attainable for those from more deprived backgrounds and communities¡±.

¡°The figures published today show that we have stood by our pledge to students to continue to oppose fees by providing free tuition and sufficient support to make sure that higher education remains accessible,¡± said Mr Russell. ¡°We listened to 바카라사이트 National Union of Students when designing 바카라사이트 new student support package to help students to access 바카라사이트 funds needed to take up places at our universities.¡±

A third from 바카라사이트 Scottish government reveals 90.3 per cent of students who left 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities in 2013 were employed or carrying out fur바카라사이트r study within six months, compared with 89.4 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com