Press release - 1 March 2012 00:01

NUS WELCOMES KEN LIVINGSTONE’S MOVE TO REINTRODUCE EMA IN LONDON

The National Union of Students (NUS) today (Thursday) welcomed an announcement from Ken Livingstone that, should he be elected Mayor of London, he will reintroduce the controversially scrapped Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

NUS said that the announcement was welcome recognition of the value of EMA for many young people and set a powerful example to national policy-makers.

Toni Pearce, NUS Vice-President (Further Education):

“EMA provided a vital source of support for many students and the Government's decision to scrap it was widely condemned not only by students and their families, but by teachers, think tanks and businesses alike."

“Reintroducing EMA in London would be a huge step towards making sure that all young people in further education receive proper financial support to pay for the bare essentials associated with studying and would set a powerful example to national policy-makers."

"Instead of washing their hands of the Government's decision to pull the plug on EMA or protesting their powerlessness, the other mayoral candidates should follow Ken's lead and commit to reintroducing EMA.”

ENDS

Topics

Education

Regions

England

NUS (National Union of Students) is a voluntary membership organisation which makes a real difference to the lives of students and its member students' unions.

We are a confederation of 600 students' unions, amounting to more than 95 per cent of all higher and further education unions in the UK. Through our member students' unions, we represent the interests of more than seven million students.

Contacts

Will Hoyles

Press contact NUS UK Press Officer will.hoyles@nus.org.uk 07866 695010

Alex Jones

Press contact Press and Public Affairs Manager alex.jones@nus.org.uk

Mike Heffron

Press contact NUS Scotland Campaigns and Communications Officer mike.heffron@nus-scotland.org.uk 07554 451941

Joni Alexander

Press contact NUS Wales Campaigns and Communications Officer joni.alexander@nus-wales.org.uk 07966 102363

Ian Williamson

Press contact NUS-USI (Northern Ireland) Policy and Public Affairs Officer ian.williamson@nistudents.org 028 9024 4641

NUS UK Switchboard

Press contact 0845 5210 262

NUS WELCOMES MILBURN REPORT ON SOCIAL MOBILITY

30 May 2012 14:15

The National Union of Students (NUS) today welcomed proposals from the Rt. Hon Alan Milburn, the Government-appointed Independent Reviewer of Social Mobility and Child Poverty, for NUS and TUC to work with the Government to improve access to internships.

HEPI SURVEY SHOWS STUDENTS ARE NOT BEING PUT ‘AT THE HEART OF THE SYSTEM’

17 May 2012 00:00

A report released today (Thursday) by HEPI shows that there has been no apparent improvement in the provision for students at UK universities since tuition fees were increased in 2006. The survey shows no noticeable increase in the amount of time spent in small group sessions since 2006 and no changes in contact hours over the same period.