Protesters march on county hall over lost education allowance
Students, parents and teachers marched on County Hall in Truro to voice their anger over government cuts in financial support.
The demonstration was organised to show the strength of feeling against the abolition of Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) which thousands of young people in Cornwall receive.
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Police watch as demonstrators at County Hall, Truro, protest against the abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance
Under Government cuts, students will lose £30 a week. Protestors say scrapping the allowance will make it more difficult for many youngsters to pursue an academic career.
Josiah Mortimer, a student who helped organise the march said: "It is clear that the Tory-led coalition is intent on making it as difficult as possible for those who aren't wealthy to stay on and study after school."
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Protestors claim the allowance, normally spent on transport and books, has encouraged more young people to go to college. Student Max Stephens said: "It is vital that we defend the scheme, brought in by Labour only seven or so years ago, and the demonstration hopes to pressure both Cornwall Council and central government to keep providing it.
"We do have the money to keep the allowance – the richest thousand in the UK last year increased their wealth by £77 billion and bankers took in £7 billion in bonuses this Christmas.
"An increase in taxation upon that wealth could cover continuing the scheme and abolish tuition fees."
Comments
by Perraner, Bolingey
Thursday, January 13 2011, 1:26PM
“Some mass protest, they can't even bother to turn up to protest. 19 turned up out of how many in the County? If the Teachers are winding them up let's all hope that they inspire their Students more in the subjects they teach than they do inspiring them to protest about their "Rights".”
by John, Camborne
Thursday, January 13 2011, 8:55AM
“Well done the students ! What needs to happen now is for a mass protest involving all those whose futures are being affected by this out of touch Government. I see that mass protests are planned by the TUC in March. Good. I hope that involves fuel protestors as well.
Sarah, you would disagree with anything. I watch your postings and your locations SE Cornwall, Camborne, Cornwall in fact anywhere. You are a professional troll. You probably don't even live in Cornwall at all.”
by Sarah, Cornwall
Thursday, January 13 2011, 8:36AM
“I think some people are missing what is happening here, teachers are winding up pupils and can you guess why”
by max power, st austell
Thursday, January 13 2011, 12:10AM
“Todays youth tomorrows future.
Times change, we had little but I don't begrudge what they have. We did have free education and I think it hypocritical to say that they shouldn't. As for the lib/dems their stance is beyond contempt.
What they will inherit will be our bill for the lies of climate change. They'll also inherit an incomprehensible local and national debt and pass it to their children. They will inherit the corrupt EU, globalisation and an undemocratic political system all because we have been bought off to accept the lies. Effectively they'll be slaves to debt when what every parent should aspire to is a life better than what we had.
Shame on us all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3YiPC91QUk&feature=related”
by David, St Austell
Wednesday, January 12 2011, 11:05PM
“Are these the same students who complain about tuition fees and vandalise properties in the cause? They have never had it so good. Do without their cars iphones nights out etc and they will have enough to do their studies. Unless of course the study is an excuse to not having to work like most of us.”
by jl, cornwall
Wednesday, January 12 2011, 10:56PM
“Students have told me candidly they will not be eating lunch but will not stop studying.Surely we should be proud of their spirit and not so fast to deride them for a system not of their instigation?It is a negative thing to generalise that all students abuse E.M.A as it is too simplistic and convenient when the truth is that they want to get their exams,they want to have an income and provide for their families when the time comes..They have ambitions and aspirations and the majority use the money to enable a reasonably quality of life during studying for their future careers. They are intelligent and bright spelling out what our country will ultimately become because of their efforts.Many of them are already receiving help from parents who struggle to pay the obscene and exhorbitant house rents and mortgages that have evolved in the uk feeding fat cat estate agents,banks and property developers.When a house and home becomes a basic human right and not someones investment then the economy will balance to where there is spare money enough for people not to be steeped in poverty and having to claim E.M.A. They are good kids and do not deserve to be labelled as scroungers without evidence.What happened to innocent until proved guilty ? Is it the students fault that E.M.A is something that the lower income amongst them have to rely on?”
by Perraner, Bolingey
Wednesday, January 12 2011, 10:54PM
“I never received a penny from the Govt in cash to study. Do what the vast majority do, grow up, get a job & get on with it. No the world does not owe you a living unless you contribute first. If you are that badly off how bo you pay to "Tweet" your imagined hardships to the world ?”
by Steve, Truro
Wednesday, January 12 2011, 8:17PM
“A police van full to cover a few students is rather a waste of public money.”
by Gazz, Truro
Wednesday, January 12 2011, 3:56PM
“Its a hard life isnt it kids!!!
Todays kids have never had it so easy and i am only 30, i see kids in there early teens with mobiles, credit cards the latest clothes etc etc, and people blame the Libs Dems and Cons when Labour started the ball rolling and if Labour was still in power it would be a lot worse and get worse”
by Sarah, Cornwall
Wednesday, January 12 2011, 12:56PM
“They need to be taught there are no three wish magic genies creating never emptying pots of gold; this is all our hard earned money handed out to for political reasons employment figures etc”