NSP overhauled to help neediest

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Who wants to go to university? Outreach should stretch to primary level

Universities admitting high numbers of low-income students will receive more resources in a shake-up of 바카라사이트 National Scholarship Programme.

The programme, which will be worth ?150 million by 2014-15, was announced by 바카라사이트 coalition government shortly before 바카라사이트 vote in December 2010 to treble maximum tuition fees to ?9,000 a year. It offers students from families earning ?25,000 a year or less 바카라사이트 chance to receive at least ?3,000 in financial support in 바카라사이트ir first year.

But 바카라사이트 scheme has been roundly criticised by academics, students¡¯ unions and higher education experts, who have argued that it was hastily conceived and is difficult to access.

There are also criticisms that 바카라사이트 distribution of NSP funds, which is based on an institution¡¯s size, is unfair because pre-1992 universities with relatively few poor students often receive more money than post-1992 institutions with higher intakes from deprived backgrounds. For instance, 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge received ?411,000 this academic year from 바카라사이트 NSP - more than 바카라사이트 University of Bradford (?345,000) or 바카라사이트 University of Bolton (?3,000).

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has now announced that 바카라사이트 allocation method will change in 2014-15 in light of a Higher Education Funding Council for England review.

The revised allocation method will ensure that ¡°바카라사이트 money follows 바카라사이트 student and goes where it is most needed¡±, a BIS spokesman said.

¡°The NSP was introduced in a rush and we did not have much time to implement it,¡± David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, told 온라인 바카라.

¡°We¡¯ve taken time to step back and make improvements.¡±

He said that part-time students would now be eligible for 바카라사이트 NSP, and institutions could use philanthropic donations to match-fund state contributions to 바카라사이트 scheme. ¡°That is great for potential donors and good for institutions, too,¡± Mr Willetts said.

A passage on 바카라사이트 changes was contained in guidance published by 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access on 17 January, titled How to Produce an Access Agreement for 2014-15.

It explains how universities can meet 바카라사이트ir obligations to improve access to higher education for socially disadvantaged groups.

The guidance outlines how universities¡¯ outreach activities should target children as young as seven, while also seeking to identify potential mature students. ¡°While work with teenagers is very useful and should continue, we are keen to see more long-term schemes that start at a younger age and persist through¡­school,¡± said Offa¡¯s director, Les Ebdon.

He also encouraged institutions to collaborate on outreach and to evaluate more closely which schemes are most effective.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com