High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
EMAs were introduced across Scotland from August 2004 for 16 year olds. In academic year 2005-06 eligibility was extended to include all 17 year olds and further extended in 2006-07 to include 18 year olds. Full roll-out was completed in academic year 2007-08 with the inclusion of eligible 19 year olds.
The number of students receiving EMA payments in Scotland in 2007-08 was 37,815. Females accounted for 54% of the 2007-08 total, while 80% of all students receive the highest weekly payment of £30.
Almost two-thirds (64%) of students supported attended school, with the remainder in college. In terms of the school/college split, proportionately more students in college are in the £30 category (84% compared with 79% in schools).
Source: Scottish Government
Students from the 15% most deprived areas in Scotland are represented proportionally more on the EMA scheme: around 16% of 16-19 year olds in Scotland live in deprived areas compared to 22% of EMA participants who were on the scheme for the full academic year in 2007-08.
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