COLLEGE principals from across York and North Yorkshire have signed a letter in The Press today appealing to the Government not to scrap the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

The seven heads from colleges from across our circulation area have expressed their “alarm” at the current plan to stop paying the EMA in July 2011 to 16-18- year-olds, including those who will be half way through their course and those whose household income is less than £20,817 per year.

The EMA is cash payments of up to £30 a week to students during term time and closes to new applicants in January. It was introduced in 2004 to encourage poorer students to stay in school or college.

The letter was organised by York College principal, Dr Alison Birkinshaw and has been co-signed by Selby College Principal Allan Stewart and Liz Philip, the principal of Askham Bryan College, York.

Dr Birkinshaw said: “The Educational Maintenance Allowance has played such an important part in supporting young people to stay in learning.

“We know that our students travel long distances and spend large sums of money on transport to college and at a time when Local Authorities are reviewing the support they give to transport for students, the withdrawal of this funding will significantly disadvantage students who wish to stay in learning but cannot afford to do so. We are convening a small group to look at the alternative funding that may be available and are lobbying for the decision to be reversed.”

The letter comes after the Government’s decision to scrap the EMA and the MPs vote on Thursday in favour of the basic university fee cap rise from £3,290 to £6,000 and universities in England able to charge £9,000 in “exceptional” circumstances on Thursday.

• See the principals’ letter in full>>