MSP slams student bursary cutbacks
Students are being forced to take out loans because free bursaries have been slashed, an MSP has warned.
Neil Bibby says learners at the University of the West of Scotland are seeing grants cut.
He insists those entering further education are being weighed down with debt after the average handout saw a reduction of more than a quarter compared to a decade ago.
Mr Bibby said:“Figures show that too much of the student support package is weighted towards loans rather than grants and bursaries.
“Rather than abolish student debt as the SNP promised, they are saddling the poorest students with even more.
“It isn’t rocket science. If you slash grants and bursaries, students are forced to turn to more and more loans instead.”
Students Awards Agency for Scotland statistics reveal the average bursary award is £1,340 – down more than 25 per cent since 2007-08.
But the average loan has leapt to £5,300, up more than 124 per cent over the period.
Mr Bibby, a Paisleybased list member for the West of Scotland, says the system should shift to provide more grants and the repayment threshold for borrowing should be raised.
He added:“It is totally absurd that students who start with the least end up owing the most.
“That’s unfair and stops far too many young people gaining a degree.
“Free tuition needs to be protected, but it has to be backed up by proper cost-of-living student support.
“We need to start taking steps on this now, starting by increasing the salary threshold at which graduates begin to pay back their student loan.”