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Students from asylum seeking families
08/11/2007
Students from asylum seeking families are to be given improved access to education as a result of regulations made today.
In July, Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced plans to give asylum children who have spent at least three years in Scottish schools the same access as Scottish children to full time further and higher education.
Under interim arrangements set up for this year 15 students from asylum seeking families are attending Scottish universities.
The regulations laid in Parliament today formalise these arrangements so that prospective students from asylum seeking families in Scotland can study here and receive appropriate financial support.
Ms Hyslop said:
"I have made it clear that, wherever children come from and why, any child living in Scotland should receive care, protection and education. This is our responsibility under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"Education is a fundamental right for children. That's why I have taken action to ensure that children from asylum seeking families and other young asylum seekers have the chance to fulfil their potential through access to further and higher education.
"Universities Scotland and many others have rightly highlighted this issue. I am pleased that with these regulations, this government has addressed this concern, ensuring fair access to education for these young people."
David Caldwell, Director of Universities Scotland, said:
"Universities Scotland has successfully worked in partnership with the Scottish Government on this issue and we are pleased that the regulations laid in Parliament today will allow for full and fair access to higher education for the children of asylum seekers. This move will not only enhance the skills of these young people but it will allow them to make an invaluable contribution to Scotland's economy, society and culture and will promote Scotland as a globally inclusive nation."
The Education (Graduate Endowment, Student Fees and Support) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2007 were laid in Parliament today (Thursday). They come into effect on December 1, 2007, applying to all courses starting from January 1, 2008 onwards.
Students must meet the following criteria to receive support:
- Child of an asylum seeker or an unaccompanied young person and have been under 18 at date of asylum application
- Asylum application made before December 1, 2006
- Under 25 on the first day of the first academic year of their course
- Minimum three years living in Scotland
- Completed secondary education in Scotland (school or college)
- Have the appropriate entry qualifications for university
Fifteen students from asylum seeking families began courses in autumn 2007, under interim arrangements agreed with the Scottish Government, the Scottish Funding Council and the institutions involved.