It's Time for a Fresh Approach to Student Funding

Speaking today following a speech by the First Minister in Glasgow on the subject of further and higher education, the SNP's Shadow Education Minister Fiona Hyslop MSP set out the SNP's proposals for reversing the decline in the percentage of school leavers in Scotland who are progressing to university.

Ms Hyslop said:

"The percentage of Scottish school leavers going to university has dropped under Labour.  Although Labour Ministers have repeatedly stated that they do not see reducing the burden of student debt as a problem that should be addressed, the SNP believe that we should tackle this problem as a key priority. 

"We will also reintroduce student grants for students from low-income backgrounds to enable talented young people to study without the fear of accumulating additional debt.

"While the First Minster has been unable to put forward any specific proposals in order to widen access to further and higher education, the SNP's plans to remove the burden of debt from Scottish graduates would not only provide a real financial boost for young people at the beginning of their working life, but would also remove the key barrier to progressing to university and college amongst young people today, namely the fear of crippling debt.

"It's time for a fresh approach to widening participation, so that all Scotland's young people can have the best possible start in life. It's time to remove the burden of graduate debt from our talented young people, and address the fear many talented school pupils have of accumulating debt while studying at college or university."

ENDS