Have Your Say on a possible replacement for EMA

opti_miser

This is clearly a subject which divides people - which is quite understandable. For those who have missed out on EMA because their parents earnings are a bit too high, or for those of us who remember working to pay our way through college it is frustrating to see some kids abusing their EMA.
Our business failed two years ago, leaving us with a six-figure loss (after paying all our creditors) which I will not attempt to get written off by some clever financial wheeze. It's my debt and I'll repay it; but in the meantime I've been very grateful that my two girls have had EMA - although the younger one will lose it this year and is trying to find work to replace it. We live in out in the sticks so it's not easy for her to find work, or to get to any place of work if she does find a job. We have lousy bus services too, so free bus passes won't help much.
Both of our girls were encouraged to save as much of their EMA as possible to help fund uni - and for the younger one she gets the double whammy of losing EMA and being part of the first uni intake to face tuition fees of up to £9K in 2012 - if I've understood the dates for that correctly.
I think we place enough obstacles in the path of our kids' educational aspirations. No system is perfect or works for everyone, but I think that EMA was at least an encouragement to those who saw in it a reward for their hard work and ambition.
As for replacing it; why not just reduce the earnings thresholds at which it's paid? Then the help goes to those who really need it the most.
Sorry this has been long-winded, but on a final note: how come students in Scotland get to keep EMA AND pay no tuition fees? (Or perhaps reduced fees in future). How can the Scottish Government afford to do this when Westminster can't?

megaroons

My daughter has used her EMA to buy a laptop for college use, for bus fares to college and for extra private tuition for subjects she needs extra help for.

Part time jobs in this area for teenagers are very rare, there are enough unemployed people to fill any jobs going.

EMA could be restricted to families with a lower income threshold. Say, £20,000, maybe more for London.

mmdoram

My daughter started collage in September, having been made redundant in February, we expected her to receive EMA, but her receiving it was based on my salary the year before, not at this time when we have nothing. Any new system should take into account circumstances now not a year ago. She was hoping for it next year, but typical, it’s to be stopped.

Gerry101

I am very new to this site and found that I have had to respond to this article.

I have two grown up children and have never ever claimed benifits apart from the child benifit, which used on my child or put aside from them. I think that it was mine and my wifes decision to bring children into this world and that it was our role to provide for them until the day we can no longer breath. I believe that it is the parents who should be support their children or even the childrenhelping th support theirselves in gettin g part time work. Why should the goverment pay out to people who WANT to continue their education. These days there is far to many people relying on others to pay for them. Across the board, people who want something out of life should put something in. The country is in deep debt and if we thing we can get a benifit for this or a benifit for that, we are never going to get back on out feet as a country. Stop being soft with the benifits is the only cure. Not everyone will agree but think of the bigger picture and not just yourselves. there is 24 hours in each day for you and your children. Getting a second job will give you more income, getting your child to get a part time job or finding weekend work will replace your lose in benifit and give the child a sense of worth and maybe teach them that working for their goals is more satisifactory and than just holding out their hands.

Indie_Kid

Those whinging about EMA - try living on £19k per year as a family of 5 and somehow tell me that you'd have £30 spare each week to give your child?

Rowan9

gabbialice wrote: »

It's been interesting reading this. I am a tutor in FE and I see both sides but I would honestly say that it's 'abused' in over 90% of cases. In my own opinion, EMA was the worst thing to happen in Further Education. Someone said earlier that if it brought students in then it was a success, but at what price? Foul-mouthed, abusive, racist, sexist young people making the lives of others (students and staff) a misery. They are quite open about why they are at college (for the EMA) and I have also known instances (as in a previous post) where the money is taken by a parent as soon as it's paid out for 'keep'. I have also been on the receiving end of abuse from parents and their children when EMA has been withheld.

I have long been an advocate of using the student's ID card as a sort of 'credit card' whereby it can be topped up and used to buy a bus pass or pay for printing or photocopying (not always available at home) or buy lunch, all within the college itself. What it will not pay for then is a bottle of vodka or some 'green' or a night out.

The qualifying criteria is also a bit of a joke as pointed out here by a student -

EMA is odd. My mate's dad is a millionaire but he still gets EMA because he lives with his mum.

By the way, nobody has mentioned the bonuses of £100 paid out in January and July.
Sorry if this has been a bit long, it's a subject very close to my (and my colleagues) heart.

I was a lecturer in FE before and after EMA introduction. My experience was the same as yours. Before EMA we may have had some students who registered for courses but who didn't plan on attending regularly. After EMA, they all had to attend every lesson or lose their money. Motivated students? Many wouldn't even buy a pen with their EMA, claiming it was for their weekend. Yes we had discipline procedures etc but they didn't make much difference.
I'm in favour of bus passes and vouchers for stationery and text books. In 3 classes of plumbing students, only 1 had bought the £25 text book. The others claimed that it was too expensive and laughed at the idea of buying it with EMA money.
Will be following this with interest.
W

Oldernotwiser

clarkekerry wrote: »

Many pupils, when interviewed, claimed that they would not be able to travel to school once the EMA was stopped. The government could "kill" several birds with this one stone. Issue all secondary school children with free bus passes. This would finance them, or more likely their parents, throughout their school years, stop the waste of EMA being spent on "luxuries", reduce congestion and greenhouse gases, and if negotiated correctly help to subsidise country buses and stop their cancellation. Any misbehaviour on the bus would result in the pass being withdrawn. The government would only be charged when the pass was used, like the Oyster system, so rich kids who travel by car don't receive anything, and if the pupil does not go to school likewise no charge.

Why wouldn't you include college students in this?

jb100

I think all full time students up to the age of 18 should have a free travel card. Public transport is really expensive.

Anything else they need, they should go out and get a part time job. No jobs around? - rubbish, my kids have always had part time jobs from the age of 14.

Oldernotwiser

buzzard wrote: »

The school leaving age may have been raised but suggesting that is enough to keep children in school is naive in the extreme. Some will abscond at the first opportunity and be hanging around the streets making a nuisance of themselves or looking to raise money from burglaries and drug deals. If students do not get EMA they should be allowed to seek work, not be forced to stay in education.

Students don't have to stay in education, they have to be in education or training. This includes apprenticeships and jobs with training.

ryanw2313

Nothing! I missed out on EMA by 1 month but you know what i did? got a job to ensure i could get to college that was 15 miles away. I did fine so why can't others? The people i knew used their EMA to buy phone top ups, new clothes etc when they didn't even turn up to college, all they had to do was phone in and *cough* i'm not feeling well today. Why should the government pay for this. However i do feel that the poorest family's should be helped but not by putting £30 into a bank account every week. Buy them a bus pass, a meal card, like they do in schools. £30 for a teenager is too much temptation as only a handful are either worthy or use it as it was intended.