This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Improvements to student advice services
21/04/2005
Better information and advice on funding for learners
will be available to people across Scotland.
Deputy First Minister and Minister for Lifelong Learning
Jim Wallace pledged a series of new measures to help
students today.
A concise, straightforward overview of the type of
support available has already been published.
And Mr Wallace said work has begun on setting up a new
national telephone helpline that will be the first point of
contact for anyone looking for advice on what funding may
be available to them.
Mr Wallace said:
"We are committed to building a skilled and confident
nation where all people can reach their potential and help
the economy grow.
"Adults who want to learn and improve their skills
should be able to find out easily what support is available
to them in Scotland. The package of measures I am
announcing today will help them through the often complex
nature of learner funding and support."
The Executive will invest £100,000 this financial year
and a further £250,000 the following year on the package of
measures, which were developed by a working group including
providers and learner representatives.
Along with the overview of funding and telephone
helpline, the measures include:
- Improving the existing Funding
for Learners website
- Funding the next edition of the
Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook, produced by
the Child Poverty Action Group
Currently, potential learners find out about funding
through various sources including their local colleges and
the Students Award Agency for Scotland. The new system will
be simpler and more straightforward to use.
Melanie Ward, President of NUS Scotland, said:
"Due to the complex nature of student support funding in
Scotland, students can find it difficult finding
straightforward, honest information to help them make
informed choices about their education.
"These new measures to provide more accessible and
understandable information for students is an excellent
move in supporting and advising students of their
choices.
"NUS Scotland is pleased to have been a part of
developing this information and welcomes the introduction
of clearer, more concise information provision for students
and potential students."
Also today, Mr Wallace announced a restructuring of the
Hardship Funds for Higher Education to make the system
simpler and better targeted.
A new Higher Education Childcare Fund will replace the
current Mature Students Bursary Fund (MSBF), which, despite
its name, principally provides childcare support for mature
students. The new fund will be open to all full-time
undergraduate parent students for formal childcare costs,
with priority given to lone parents and mature
students.
Mr Wallace continued:
"We have had consistent feedback that the MSBF is not
effective and have listened to this.
"Students who are not mature students may require access
to childcare costs - but have difficulty getting it. Many
institutions have difficulty spending their allocations
because of the fund's criteria. And the maximum limit of
£2,000 payable means that student finance officers are
hampered in determining individual amounts of assistance
based on particular circumstances.
"There has been wide consultation on these proposals and
support for them. I believe the new HE Childcare Fund,
operating alongside the retained Undergraduate Hardship
Fund, will be a great improvement to the structure of
discretionary funds."