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Grant targeted on poorer students Grant targeted on poorer students
(about 2 hours later)
Scottish teenagers who would qualify for £10 or £20 weekly grants could lose out under proposals to spread funding to more of the most needy.Scottish teenagers who would qualify for £10 or £20 weekly grants could lose out under proposals to spread funding to more of the most needy.
The Scottish Government plans to extend £30 education maintenance allowances to more training and community projects.The Scottish Government plans to extend £30 education maintenance allowances to more training and community projects.
In a consultation on post-16 choices, the move is signalled as an alternative to England's path of changing the law to compel learning to age 18.In a consultation on post-16 choices, the move is signalled as an alternative to England's path of changing the law to compel learning to age 18.
Four fifths of Scots EMA recipients get the higher £30-a-week grant.Four fifths of Scots EMA recipients get the higher £30-a-week grant.
It is estimated that axing the lower value means-tested payments would free up £7.5m by 2011-12.It is estimated that axing the lower value means-tested payments would free up £7.5m by 2011-12.
Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop argues that research shows that EMAs had a number of positive effects - but most of those getting them would have stayed on at school anyway.Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop argues that research shows that EMAs had a number of positive effects - but most of those getting them would have stayed on at school anyway.
Her consultation document aims to improve support for the most vulnerable young people - those not learning in schools and colleges.Her consultation document aims to improve support for the most vulnerable young people - those not learning in schools and colleges.
It says: "There are already many good examples of non-formal learning opportunities which help young people to re-engage and ultimately progress into more formal learning or employment.
"Our challenge is to make this more coherent, with pathways which are as clear for those young people as the existing pathways for young people in school or college."
SupportSupport
Launching the package in North Lanarkshire, which has been piloting some of the ideas, Ms Hyslop said: "It is crucial we equip our young people with the right skills to reach their potential and so they can play their part in Scotland's future economic success, including helping it recover from the current downturn.Launching the package in North Lanarkshire, which has been piloting some of the ideas, Ms Hyslop said: "It is crucial we equip our young people with the right skills to reach their potential and so they can play their part in Scotland's future economic success, including helping it recover from the current downturn.
"Our new model for post-16 learning will support that by ensuring all young people of this age have a suitable offer of learning but with a particular focus on improving the skills and life opportunities of those who leave school at the earliest opportunity, often with no - or minimal - qualifications. "To support these changes, we intend to look again at the financial support and guidance available for these young people which is currently too rigidly tied to school based learning." "Our new model for post-16 learning will support that by ensuring all young people of this age have a suitable offer of learning but with a particular focus on improving the skills and life opportunities of those who leave school at the earliest opportunity, often with no - or minimal - qualifications.
"To support these changes, we intend to look again at the financial support and guidance available for these young people which is currently too rigidly tied to school based learning."
The consultation, 16+ Learning Choices: First Step Activity and Financial Support, comes as the Education and Skills Act has passed into law in England.The consultation, 16+ Learning Choices: First Step Activity and Financial Support, comes as the Education and Skills Act has passed into law in England.
A key part of this is that everyone must be in some form of recognised education and training until they are 17, by the year 2013, and 18 by 2015. But England's Children's Secretary Ed Balls stressed: "We do not expect every 16 and 17-year-old to remain in school - young people will be free to work as long as they are learning too. A key part of this is that everyone must be in some form of recognised education and training until they are 17, by the year 2013, and 18 by 2015.
But England's Children's Secretary Ed Balls stressed: "We do not expect every 16 and 17-year-old to remain in school - young people will be free to work as long as they are learning too.
"This system is about creating real opportunity so there is something for everyone.""This system is about creating real opportunity so there is something for everyone."
Payment problemsPayment problems
Another part of the Scottish proposals involves replacing the existing allowance for those aged 16 to 19 on the Get Ready for Work programme with EMAs "to enable parity between work-based training and school and college learning".Another part of the Scottish proposals involves replacing the existing allowance for those aged 16 to 19 on the Get Ready for Work programme with EMAs "to enable parity between work-based training and school and college learning".
This was done in England in 2006.This was done in England in 2006.
Scotland's EMA system has not been blighted by the chaos resulting from the outsourcing of the scheme in England, which most recently saw the Liberata company replaced by Capita - but with many youngsters still awaiting their payments.Scotland's EMA system has not been blighted by the chaos resulting from the outsourcing of the scheme in England, which most recently saw the Liberata company replaced by Capita - but with many youngsters still awaiting their payments.
Scotland's scheme is also more generous: although the payments are currently the same - either £10, £20 or £30 a week - the family income thresholds triggering these are higher in Scotland.Scotland's scheme is also more generous: although the payments are currently the same - either £10, £20 or £30 a week - the family income thresholds triggering these are higher in Scotland.
EMAs in Wales and Northern Ireland are not affected by the latest proposals.EMAs in Wales and Northern Ireland are not affected by the latest proposals.