Assembly Learning Grant not reaching those in greatest need

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Apr 2008

The Assembly's flagship grant scheme for students is failing to reach many of the people who need it most, say Welsh Liberal Democrats.

Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education has expressed disappointment with the fact that only 0.2% of part time learners in Further Education receive the Assembly Learning Grant (ALG) every year, and this number is falling rapidly. In 2004-5 there were 670 successful p/t applicants. That fell to 530 in 2005-6, then 380 in 2006-7.

The figures, released by the Welsh Assembly Government, show that in 2006-07 only 0.2% of adults studying part time in FE colleges received an Assembly Learning Grant compared to 9.7% of full time students.

Kirsty Williams said: "It is disappointing that a huge number of part time students are not receiving funding that they are entitled to. These grants are designed to help those most in need into education and many are missing out.

"Part time students need to be given as much help as full time students. Many do not realise they can apply for the Assembly Learning Grant, although anyone studying for 275 hours or more per year can apply. The government have promised us time and time again that they are working to help people into education but these statistics tell a different story."

A survey of FE college websites conducted on the 25th of March 2008, showed that ALG is not mentioned on 10 out of 25 college websites in Wales, with one misleadingly stating that the ALG is for full time students only. Three websites provide only an external link to Student Finance Wales, and provide no information of their own.

"Students frequently use websites to find out information not only on applying for courses but also on the level of financial support they can expect to receive. To have no information on the ALG or even worse, misleading information, means that students are missing out on crucial levels of funding.

"The government keeps telling us that skills - and improving those skills - are the key to Wales' future prosperity. The Labour-Plaid Government must ensure that all students who could benefit from support are aware of their entitlement."

Notes/Nodiadau:

Statistics taken from "Student finance: Assembly Learning Grants Awarded to Welsh Domiciled Students in Further Education 2007/8" March 2008. As well as "Further Education, Work based learning and Community Learning in Wales 2006/7" December 2007.

440 successful applications were made by part time students and 4250 by full time students in 2006/7.

College websites surveyed included Barry College, Bridgend College, Coleg Ceredigion, Coleg Glan Hafren, Ystrad Mynach College, Coleg Harlech, Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Coleg Llysfasi, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Coleg Menai, Coleg Gwent, Coleg Powys, Coleg Sir Gar, Welsh College of Horticulture, Gorseinon College, Merthyr Tydfil College, NPT College, Pembrokeshire College, Swansea College, Deeside College, Yale College, Coleg Morgannwg, WEA South, YMCA Community College and Saint David's Catholic College.