Members of the republican youth movement met tonight (Monday 13th December) to discuss the potential impact of the cuts to young people interested in pursuing further education, and to draw up a campaign plan to exert pressure on Minister for Employment and Learning, Danny Kennedy, to not implement the cuts.
The EMA is an allowance granted to 16-19 year olds, from a low income family who are pursuing higher education.
Ógra Shinn Féin who have a long running campaign in support of educational rights, have said that cutting the EMA ‘will disproportionally and negatively affect working class students from pursuing higher education.’
Tyrone Ógra Shinn Féin spokesperson, Laura Gildernew said,
“The Tory cuts against Education amount to an attack on working class people’s right to higher education. The proposed hike in University fees and now the withdrawal of the EMA if allowed to proceed by Danny Kennedy will effectively sound the death knell to our economy, by destroying the future of our biggest asset, our young people; it will also create a two tier education system where only those that can afford it can go.”
“Withdrawing the EMA will disproportionally and negatively affect working class students from pursuing higher education. We are committed to campaigning to ensure that the EMA continues and that young people, particularly those most in need are supported and facilitated all the way in pursuing higher education. We believe in universal education which is free at every level, our investment in our young people is an investment in our collective futures.”
1 comment:
I would like to well come the move by tyrone ogra shinn fein on get the ball roll in telling the mister for emploment and learing. do not cut ema. iknow many young polpel here in belfast who is far the lost of ema just like in many part of the norths. neily
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