Multimillion bursary scheme to help vulnerable

U.K. – The Government announced a new $277 million NZD bursary scheme to help the most vulnerable 16-19 years-olds continue in full-time education, the U.K. Department for Education reports.

The scheme is made up of two parts – a guaranteed payment to a small group of the most vulnerable, and a discretionary fund for schools and colleges to distribute.

Around 12,000 16-19 year olds will be given guaranteed bursaries of $2,500 NZD a year. This group is made up of children in care, care leavers and those on income support.

Income support is paid to young people such as teenage parents, young people with severe disabilities, teenagers living away from their parents and young people whose parents have died.

Schools and colleges can distribute the rest of the money to support any student who faces genuine financial barriers to participation such as costs of transport, food or equipment.

They will have the freedom to decide the scale of the bursaries; to pay weekly, monthly, or annually; and link it to behaviour or attendance.

Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education, said: “Sadly, we have been falling behind other nations in our educational performance… We have a system of education spending which is fundamentally inefficient.

“[Now] we are expanding apprenticeships, expanding technical Academies, and… we are proving targeted financial support for the most vulnerable.”