11 April 2001

MINISTER LAUNCHES EQUALITY CONSULTATION ON STUDENT FINANCE PROPOSALS

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment,

Dr Sean Farren, today published an equality consultation document entitled Student Finance Review: Proposals for Change – Equality Consultation Document.

The document invites organisations and individuals with an interest in student finance issues, in both further and higher education, part-time and full-time, to consider the proposals on student support recently announced by the Minister and to comment on their possible impact on specific group(s) in respect of equality of opportunity.

Copies of the consultation document, including alternative formats, are available from the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training & Employment;

by telephoning; (028) 90257741

by E-mail: alan.macdonald@dhfeteni.gov.uk

and on the Department’s website at www.nics.gov.uk/mainhfe.htm

or by writing to;

Alan Macdonald

DHFETE

Student Support Branch

Room 407

39-49 Adelaide House

Adelaide Street

Belfast, BT2 8FD.

The closing date for respondents to submit evidence to the Department is Friday 15 June 2001.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Dr Farren initiated a Review of Student Finance in Northern Ireland in February 2000, following which he announced, on the 26 March 2001, a package proposals designed to target social need, widen access to third level education to those previously under represented and provide incentives for skills development, particularly in further education.

The key proposals announced by the Minister included:

• the introduction of means-tested, non-repayable Bursaries worth up to £1,500 for full-time undergraduate students in higher education. These will be targeted at students from less well off backgrounds.
  
• the creation of 1,000 new higher education places.
  
• the raising of the threshold of residual parental income at which a student must pay towards tuition fees from £17,805pa to £20,000 (an increase of more than 12%).
  
• the abolition of tuition fees for full-time students, over 19, on a wide range of vocational further education courses.
  
• the introduction of around 3000 discretionary Bursaries, worth up to £1,500 for students over 19 in further education who are studying full-time.
  
• the introduction of a childcare grant worth up to £85 per week for one child or £127.50 per week for two or more children for students on low incomes with dependant children.
  
• other actions will be taken aimed at promoting access to third level education and the provision of accessible guidance and information to students.

The equality consultation exercise now underway is being held under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which requires the Department, in carrying out all its powers, duties and other functions, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity:

• between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age marital status or sexual orientation;
  
• between men and women generally;
  
• between persons with a disability and persons without; and
  
• between persons with dependants and persons without.

and to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.

For further information please contact Simon Burrowes on 028 9025 7831 or 07799 711524.