Government's failings on college funding are hitting poorest students

The survey of 182 colleges, by the Association of Colleges (AoC), reveals that over half (52%) of colleges are topping up grants for students and 56% are spending more on subsidising students' transport costs than last year. Half of colleges surveyed reported a drop in enrolments of 16-19-year olds.
 
The AoC said a significant number of colleges are concerned that financial constraints are preventing some students from pursuing their preferred courses at their institution of choice, and that there is a risk of vulnerable groups becoming disengaged from education.
 
Key findings from the survey include:

• over half of the colleges (52%) that responded to the survey are topping up government bursary funding with their own contributions
• a similar proportion (56%) are spending more on subsidising transport than last year
• four-fifths (79%) of colleges said that free meals for poorer students would improve participation
• half (50%) reported a drop in students aged 16-19 and a quarter (25%) reported a significant dip of between 5% and 15 %.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The government's failure to come up with a proper replacement for the EMA has left colleges scrabbling to find the funds to keep our poorest students in education.

'As youth unemployment soars towards record levels, the government needs to urgently reassess its priorities and make access to education easier for the poorest in society. The introduction of better transport subsidies and free meals for the poorest students would represent an important step in the right direction.'