MORE than 200 students at Selby College downed tools and walked out of class today in protest at the Government’s plans to cut funding that helps low-income students stay on in education.

The Student Union-led protest was to stand up for the 600 students, almost half the student body at Selby College, who receive Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), to help cover their transport costs to and from college, buy meals whilst at college, and purchase books and equipment.

MPs will vote tomorrow on a Labour motion calling on the Government to rethink its decision to abolish the weekly allowance of up to £30 for low-income students aged 16-19 at the end of the academic year.

Selby College Student Union member Dan West, who has received a conditional offer to study Medicine at Cambridge University, said: “Without EMA I’d have to take on more part-time work, so I’d have to drop some courses which in turn would have a detrimental impact on my chances of fulfilling my dream of a career in medicine.

“It’s not possible to juggle a full-time course with a full-time job and when you’re at college five days a week and most of the day, the cost of food - even bringing your own packed lunches - is quite expensive, so students do need help. I understand the Government needs to save money, but why directly target the very people whose skills they will rely on to boost the economy in the future?”

Principal Allan Stewart OBE called the Government’s proposals to replace EMA with a Discretionary Learner Grant “totally inadequate”.

“At just 10 per cent of what we currently receive through the EMA scheme, the new Discretionary Learner Grant will mean that many students who need financial support to attend college will not be able to receive it and student numbers will therefore decline rapidly.”

York College students and staff demonstrated their concerns over the scrapping of EMA when they held hands around the perimeter of the college building in December and holding a mass signing of 400 postcards, which they sent to 15 different constituency MPs.

Extended Diploma in Science student, James Savage, represented York College on a student panel at a meeting with Shadow Education Minister Andy Burnham. He said: “The panel told him, in no uncertain terms, that the abolition of EMA would have a devastating effect on students and the further education sector.”

York College Student Union President, Sam Garside, said students who live in rural areas and rely on the allowance to fund travelling a substantial distance to get to college, would particularly lose out.