How will cuts to college grants affect you?
Are you a young person hoping to go to college or sixth-form but worried about how you will afford to study in light of plans to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)?
If so, the Post wants to hear from you.
Under new proposals students across the country will lose the Grant that sees 16 to 18-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds receive up to �30 a week.
Those opposing the move claim many young people will be put off further education if the grant is abolished and those already studying could be forced to drop out.
This week students at Barking and Dagenham College - where 41 per cent of 16 to 18-year-olds receive the grant - expressed their anger at the decision.
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Travel and tourism student Jade Ellison, 16, from Dagenham, said: “I use the grant for things like food and travel. Things are hard enough already - if I lose the grant I will have to get a job, which will be really tough because I have lots of course work to do,
“I have younger sisters and I am worried for them. They may not be able to carry on studying like I have.
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Jade added: “I understand the country is in debt but this is not fair on us.”
At Sydney Russell School year 11 pupil Theresa Mature, 15, said : “I had been planning to study A-levels full time next year but now I think I will have to do them part-time and work as well. Getting rid of the EMA grant will affect a lot of people I know.”
What do you think? Let us know at postnewsdesk@archant.co.uk or leave your comments below.
