Pay students a living wage, says union

♦ The Government should introduce a minimum living income for students to ensure financial pressures do not dissuade them from university or college, a review has suggested.

The National Union of Students (NUS) said working class students face major barriers hindering their ability to enrol in post-16 education in England.

The NUS report proposes the Government introduce a minimum living income, but does not say how much this should be. Shakira Martin, the NUS president, said: “Being born workingclass is one of the biggest barriers to education.”

A Department for Education spokesman said: “Our reforms to higher, further and technical education are going further than any before to make sure that every young person can fulfil their potential, whatever their background.”