The SNP’s reduction in financial support for Scotland’s poorest students will be criticised in Holyrood tomorrow.
A range of respected organisations within the further and higher education sector have produced submissions which show it is getting more difficult for young people from the most deprived areas to complete a college or university course.
MSPs on the education committee will hear that the average grant and bursary payout fell from £1860 to £1220 between 2012/13 and 2014/15, with Universities Scotland highlighting the 40 per cent drop.
Official figures show the number of students receiving such support also fell by more than two per cent, despite Scottish Government pledges to get more disadvantaged students into college and university.
And in its evidence to MSPs, Colleges Scotland will say: “Evidence shows that one of the greatest barriers to students participating and remaining in education is financial support.
“Over recent years the college sector has faced significant funding reductions… The impact of reclassification, along with the changing profile of students and the evolution of the college sector demographic in line with Scottish Government priorities have placed increased pressure on the student funding awards across FE and HE provision.”
It adds that, over the years, the level of bursaries available has dropped and been replaced by an increasing loan component.
If a student wants the maximum bursary available, they have to first take out a loan of £5750.
The submission adds: “Many of these students come from backgrounds that are very debt averse and are reluctant to participate in higher education programmes as a consequence.
“The low level of financial support available, and the discretionary and variable nature of the awards, can often act as a major discouragement for students wishing to participate in full-time further education – particularly students from low income households.”
Tomorrow, NUS Scotland will also point out that “the simple fact remains that the system is not fit for purpose, leaving far too much uncertainty for students”.
And the University and College Union will tell MSPs: “Scotland has the lowest percentage of university entrants from the poorest backgrounds, and the lowest proportion of entrants from state schools – clearly such figures are unacceptable.”
Scottish Conservative young people spokeswoman Liz Smith said:
“It is very clear from the submissions to the education committee that colleges and universities feel badly let down by the SNP when it comes to support for poorer students.
“The facts tell us that the number of students receiving grants and bursaries in Scotland fell by more than two per cent between 2012/13 and 2014/15 and so too did the total level of support.
“In 2012/13, the average pay-out was £1860 but this fell to £1220 in 2014/15.
“That is a significant difference and puts paid, once and for all, to the SNP’s erroneous claims that Scotland has the best student support package in the UK.
“That is simply not true.
“Other countries, including England, are making much better progress when it comes to funding grants and bursaries for poorer students and reducing the inequalities across different student groups.
“Colleges Scotland makes the point that the recent reclassification of colleges as public sector bodies means that they no longer have the flexibility to top-up student funding by use of college reserves.
“This is making the situation worse and it is high time the SNP recognised the damage it is doing.
“It makes a huge song and dance about being on the side of our poorer students, but the facts prove the reverse is true.”