News / Students worse off under new travel scheme
SHETLAND students studying on the mainland are being penalised by government changes to travel expenses.
Isles MSP Tavish Scott has asked students hit by the change from grants to loans to contact him, after education secretary Michael Russell claimed Shetland students were better off under the rule change.
Mr Scott said that until this year students were paid a grant to cover the cost of the fare they paid to attend college by ferry, the cheapest method of reaching the mainland. Now the government tops up the student loan instead.
The MSP wrote to Mr Russell after being contacted by several students unhappy with the new arrangements.
The education secretary wrote back saying students were better off under the new regime, adding: “The average payment to a Shetland student in 2009/2010 was £395 compared to the Scottish average for £464.
“Approximately 30 students in each of Shetland and Orkney were expected to be worse off as a result of these changes, with around 400 in each either better off or experiencing no change.”
Now Mr Scott has asked students to get in touch with him to see if they are better off than they were last year.
He said mainland students who were receiving top up loans for catching a daily bus to college from their parents’ home did not have to incur the expense of rent and living expenses of islands students.
“Mike Russell is throwing smoke bombs at the situation, I would like him to look at the reality of the situation.”
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