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24/01/2005
Students receive first 'stay in school' bonuses
The first bonuses for students eligible for the new weekly Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) payment scheme are being paid out this week.
The bonus is part of the scheme to encourage teenagers to stay in education after they turn 16. The bonus, which is paid after a student's return after their first term, is one of a series available for performance and good attendance. Students are eligible for a bonus payment of £100 every January and July and also in October, if they return for a second year. Bonuses depend on a student's progress on their course, but could be worth up to £500 over two years.
The EMA scheme encourages students who live in a household with an annual income of less than £30,000, to stay in further education, by granting them payments of up to £30 a week for regular attendance on their courses.
Commenting on the scheme, Ivan Lewis, Minister for Skills and Vocational Education, said: "With this extra cash, young people who might have been tempted to drop out of their courses into low paid jobs after the New Year holiday have been given a huge incentive to stay on.
"We have one of the worst post-16 dropout rates in the world and are determined to reverse this. The bonus is an important part of our overall EMA package and it's extremely encouraging that so many students have qualified for their first payments."
Britain has one of the worst post-sixteen dropout rates in the world. Almost 83,000 16-year-olds dropped out of education following their GCSEs last year.
Young people aged 17 between September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2005, are eligible for the payments if they undertake at least 12 hours of guided learning on further education courses per week.
(KMcA/SP)
The bonus is part of the scheme to encourage teenagers to stay in education after they turn 16. The bonus, which is paid after a student's return after their first term, is one of a series available for performance and good attendance. Students are eligible for a bonus payment of £100 every January and July and also in October, if they return for a second year. Bonuses depend on a student's progress on their course, but could be worth up to £500 over two years.
The EMA scheme encourages students who live in a household with an annual income of less than £30,000, to stay in further education, by granting them payments of up to £30 a week for regular attendance on their courses.
Commenting on the scheme, Ivan Lewis, Minister for Skills and Vocational Education, said: "With this extra cash, young people who might have been tempted to drop out of their courses into low paid jobs after the New Year holiday have been given a huge incentive to stay on.
"We have one of the worst post-16 dropout rates in the world and are determined to reverse this. The bonus is an important part of our overall EMA package and it's extremely encouraging that so many students have qualified for their first payments."
Britain has one of the worst post-sixteen dropout rates in the world. Almost 83,000 16-year-olds dropped out of education following their GCSEs last year.
Young people aged 17 between September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2005, are eligible for the payments if they undertake at least 12 hours of guided learning on further education courses per week.
(KMcA/SP)
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UK Jobless Total Continues To Rise
The UK unemployment rate has continued to rise sharply, according to the latest figures released from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today. The unemployment rate rose to 5.3%, up 0.2% over the quarter and up 0.6% over the year. The number of unemployed people increased by 77,000 over the quarter and by 199,000 over the year, to reach 1.
27 April 2012
Higher Education Strategy For NI Launches
Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry today addressed members of the Assembly to launch 'Graduating to Success - A Higher Education Strategy for Northern Ireland'.
Higher Education Strategy For NI Launches
Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry today addressed members of the Assembly to launch 'Graduating to Success - A Higher Education Strategy for Northern Ireland'.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
