27 January 2005
Ryedale Labour man welcomes incentive for kids to stay on at school
Paul Blanchard, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Ryedale has welcomed the news that thousands of teenagers across England who stay in education after their GCSEs will receive a bonus of £100 this week.
The Labour Government's first Education Maintenance Allowance payments will be paid to over-16s who return to studying after their first term. It is one of a series of payments they will receive for good attendance and performance.
Students are eligible for a bonus of £100 in January and July – and again in October if they come back for a second year.
Paul said:
"With this extra cash young people who might have been tempted to drop out of their courses into low paid jobs have been given a huge incentive to stay on.
"We have one of the worst post-16 drop-out rates in the world and are determined to reverse this.
"Labour has put education at the heart of its agenda and wants every young person to achieve their potential. This bonus offers them an incentive to continue studying and invest in their own future.
"If the Conservatives were in government, they would cut money from state schools to subsidise private education. This would mean taking Ryedale back to lower standards and fewer opportunities for young people from hard working families."
Notes to Editors:
Young people who are 17 years old between 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2005 are eligible for payments if they engage in at least 12 hours a week of studying.
