SNP DELIVER £30 MILLION FOR COLLEGE AND UNI STUDENTS

SNP DELIVER £30 MILLION FOR COLLEGE AND UNI STUDENTS

TRANSFER FROM LOANS TO GRANTS BOOST SCOTTISH STUDENTS

SNP MSP and Education Committee member Aileen Campbell has welcomed the SNP Government’s announcement of £30 million of funding to support Scottish students at college and university.

The funding will benefit the poorest students at university or on HNC and HND courses at Scotland’s colleges with increases in grants and loans. It will also see an extra £2 million given to students with children to meet childcare costs.

The SNP has already cut the cost of university for Scotland’s students by scrapping the £2300 graduate fee.

Ms Campbell a member of the Scottish Parliament’s education committee and someone who has experienced the current student loans system said:

“This £30 million fund will make a real difference to thousands of Scottish students at colleges and universities.

“The SNP Government is already investing more in Scotland’s students than any previous administration.

“We have scrapped the graduate endowment fund, put in place grants for part time students and increased hardship funding in response to the recession.

“Today’s announcement will see increased support for all students with funding for childcare, grants for many mature students who may be retraining through the recession, increased support for poorer students on bursaries and access to additional funding at low interest rates. I particularly like the fact that the students, through the NUS will have a chance to work with the government as to exactly how this funding will be divided.

“As more and more students struggle to get part time work it is essential we support them during the recession, just as we support those who want to learn a new skill.

“Under the last administration we saw the biggest drop in people going to university. Since then the SNP have removed the graduate endowment, taking over £2000 of the debt burden and today’s proposals will help to cut that burden further – ensuring the best possible support for the Scotland’s college and university students."