5.5k pupils paid EMA
THE amount of young people in the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) being paid to stay on in school until they are eighteen rose by almost 1,000 over the past five years.
Back in 2007/8, 4,700 pupils were in receipt of Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) grants in WELB but this has risen steadily and during the last academic year, 2011/12, stood at 5,550.
Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry revealed the number of pupils who received EMA in each of the last five years.
Pupils who stay on at school or go to college in Northern Ireland whose families have an income of £33,950 or less are entitled to a fortnightly payment of up to £60.