You may be aware that Leighton Andrews the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning recently announced that the Education Maintenance Allowance Scheme (EMA) would be retained in Wales, despite being abolished in England.
The closure of the EMA scheme in England has received significant coverage in the national media, which has created some confusion among young people and parents regarding the future of the EMA in Wales.
The below links are of an interview the Minister recently gave with a young person from a sixth form school in Wales. In the video the Minister dicusses with the interviewer the future of the EMA in Wales and the new arrangements for those who live in Wales and study elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
We would be very grateful if you could distribute through any email networks, post on your website and encourage, inform and advise young people particularly in years 11,12,13 at your school or college of the interview by using the various links we have provided to inform and re-assure them about the future of the EMA Wales Scheme.
http://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid=56,1835646&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbKWdFWt_Ek
Kind Regards,
Brendan Murtagh
Student Finance Manager
Engagement and Student Finance Division
Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
Welsh Assembly Government
The EMA is a great asset to the Welsh people and allows equal opportunities in education.