ema stopping

[mollykins]

Noone will get ema after this year for attending further education, do you think less people will go to college?

If so it'll only be a msall drop, but I do know of people that picked the three easiest a-level subjects or are doing gcse resits, to get the money because it's easier than getting a job.

[ummmm]

It's going to stop now :-)

[sara3]

for me, it's about helping with my daughter's 6th form expenses. she's not out partying with it.

in fact, they haven't actually paid it out yet, as there has been a mix up in the paperwork, but *when* she gets it..

[juandelacruz]

I'm shocked. Why would any government seek to risk lowering its educational standard? What do politicians of a certain line of thought talk about on the golf course? Do they want a pool of undereducated to provide cheap labour? The European countries that have invested in education are doing well - Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany et al.

[WhiteBears]

why shud kids get paid to go to colleague? thats insane, im glad u have to pay it back wen u go to uni £9k per year? ha take that! ur just payin government back plus interest! lol -sorry thats mean and the tututionn fee iss a bit OTT tbh.

i still have £22k student loan to pay bk - graduated in 2006... ohh well

[ummmm]

They can't leave school until they are 18 now anyway.

[sara3]

if kids leave school at 16 they will be lucky to get a job in the local supermarket. they need a reasonable level of education to get on in life and it's not always possible for parents to fund everything.

personally, I work full time. I don't claim benefits (because I'm not entitled), I have a mortgage and two teenagers. I don't get maintenance from my ex as he is now disabled and can not work. I try to do my best for my kids. it's hard work and this small contribution from EMA would have been a help. they've not sorted it out yet, and by the time they have it will be withdrawn.

[ummmm]

Companies don't want to pay the extra insurance for employing under 18's. So a 16 year old leaves school and can't get a job. 2 years on the dole and it's become a habit.

[mollykins]

White bears I don't get ema, so my student loan won't be paying that back. And anyway very few unis will be llowed to charge the full 9k. I found most of your comment quite rude tbh.

[WhiteBears]

hi mollykin, sorry for being rude. i didnt get ema wen i went to college so what difference should it make now? if the government didnt introduced ema in the first place then this conversation wouldnt have started.

[sara3]

whitebears, perhaps the government recognised that some parents were struggling with related school/college expenses, plus it's better to invest in education than be paying continual generations to claim benefits.

[mollykins]

That's ok, it's just it soudned as if you were having a go at me.

But if you're 16 is there only certain benefits you can get? I think my mum said you can't get job seekers allowance as they'd tell you to go to college or sixth form etc if you can't get a job.

[ummmm]

They should give schools and colleges more funds so the kids don't have to pay for text books.

[WhiteBears]

im with redhelen, i recieved no help from government or my parents, i worked to pay for my uni days as the amount they loaned me just enuff to pay tutition fee and one quarter of my accommondation. i struggled but got by.

[mollykins]

We don't have to pay for text books but our teachers practically make us buy all the revision guides we could possibly use.

[Dris]

What did you graduate in Whitebears?

[ummmm]

It's been a while since I was at school.

You're lucky you're not doing art...that cost me a small fortune.

[sara3]

and I wasn't allowed to stay on past my O Levels as I was expected to go to work at 16.

I don't want that for my children. just because I "suffered" doesn't mean it would be good for my kids to go through the same thing.

[WhiteBears]

i understand that sara, but governemnt pays the students though... and do they spend it on college stuff? ahemmm not really.... they spend on ... designer clothes, fags, etc.