Robin Swann, Ulster Unionist Party MLA and Chairman of the Stormont Employment and Learning Committee, has warned that cuts in the hardship fund could lead low income students attending further education colleges into a poverty trap.
Mr Swann said:
“In my own North Antrim constituency, the Northern Regional College has a terrific reputation for providing top quality further and higher education for students from all socio economic backgrounds.
“It would be a terrible shame if students were either deterred from enrolling on further education courses or had to leave courses because they could not afford to study because of cuts to the hardship fund.
“For many students, the hardship fund is the essential difference between continuing their studies and dropping out of their courses.
“In pure cash terms, the hardship fund allocation for the Northern Regional College has decreased from £215,000 in the 2013/14 allocation to £158,384 in the 2014/15 allocation – a drastic cut of over £56,000.
“The Employment and Learning Minister urgently needs to rethink his sums and adopt a more positive attitude of putting students first. A price cannot be placed on preparing students for work and a playing constructive and productive role in society.”