SDLP calls on Dodds to ‘support all third level students’

All NI full time third level students should be receiving the student support payment and not just those attending NI universities, the SDLP says.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly has challenged Economy Minister Diane Dodds to extend the £500 payment to all NI students including those at third level colleges elsewhere.

Mrs Kelly said: “This call follows the presentation of a petition, signed by more than 7,000 students, directly to Minister Diane Dodds at the NI Assembly.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The Minister’s current proposal excludes both many of those studying at FE colleges and those studying in Britain or the South and Mrs Kelly said she was not prepared to allow Minister Dodds to exclude these groups, almost a third of our student population, from financial support.

Dolores KellyDolores Kelly
Dolores Kelly

Mrs Kelly said: “The SDLP stood on the floor of the NI Assembly, carrying the voices of more than 7,000 young people and students who signed our petition and stood with us on our fight for fairness for students.”

“After months of campaigning, the Economy Minister brought forward a £22m scheme to support students, adopting an SDLP proposal to pay a £500 hardship payment to all full-time students.

“Under her current proposals however, the Economy Minister is excluding almost a third of our student population from financial assistance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“NI students studying in Britain and the south have the same extortionate fees, rent costs and lost income as those studying locally, yet Minister Dodds is intending to exclude them from as much as a penny in financial support. She has also, inexplicably, excluded those studying full-time in Further Education - these students face the same challenges as those in Higher Education and they must also receive this support.

“Our survey of students showed that three out of four are in financial distress, with nearly 80% excluded from financial support and 94% who said the pandemic has impacted their mental health.

“This support must be extended to all and the Minister has a long distance to go to ensure fair treatment for all NI students.

“The SDLP will continue to fight to make sure the Minister gets there and gets there quickly.”

-

-

-

-

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Southern Health Trust issues statement on beleaguered GP surgery in a bid to reassure 5,200 patients Read full story here

-

-

-

Editor’s Message:

Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.