Latest editorial
School children in a classroom
EDUCATION grants, abolished in England over a decade ago by the Tory-led coalition government, are to be extended to more students in Wales.
The education maintenance allowance (EMA), which gives students aged 16 to 18 a weekly allowance for transport, meals and other costs, was axed in 2011 — in a blatant breach of a Lib-Dem election pledge.
The devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland continued to pay the weekly grants.
Cuts are sweeping campuses as cash-strapped universities slash staff and politicians fail to act on a growing funding emergency. VINCE MILLS reports
JACKIE OWEN and DYLAN LEWIS-ROWLANDS argue that Welsh Labour conference this weekend is the be-all and end-all moment if Labour wants to avoid a rout at next year’s election
Almost half of universities face deficits, merger mania is taking hold, and massive fee hikes that will lock out working-class students are on the horizon, write RUBEN BRETT, PAUL WHITEHOUSE and DAN GRACE