Too many students in Scotland drop out
of full time education due to inadequate
financial support.
Speaking on behalf of a motion from
the Annual STUC Youth Conference, UNISON
Scotland's Ryan Boyle said that ‘students
from poorer backgrounds are being failed’
Ryan supported the STUC Youth Conference
motion calling for significant investment
in further education support, increased
grants for the poorest higher education
students, a fairer deal for post graduate
students, and a fair and co-ordinated
funding system incorporating Student Awards
Agency Scotland, Education Maintenance
Allowance and hardship funds, to ensure
students from poor backgrounds are not
denied access to education and qualifications.
Ryan said ‘that the students in
universities around Scotland were setting
up food parcel schemes for students who
couldn’t keep up with the rising
cost of living, in addition others have
been issuing vouchers to allow three days
emergency access to the local food banks
Ryan pointed out that students from
more disadvantaged backgrounds are more
likely to drop out of university and college
within two years of starting despite having
similar grades to their richer peers at
the outset of their course. Ryan told
the STUC this was not acceptable and called
on the Scottish Government and others
to act.
