I'm in two minds. On the one hand I know plenty of people who misuse it and don't need it (myself included, I get £10 and I don't need it). At the same time, it irritates me when people are like "oh everyone just spends it on alcohol" because I have two friends who literally would not be able to go to college without their EMA, and people like that really do need it. I don't think it should be scrapped but I think they need to sort out the boundaries so the people who get it really need it. (although to be honest I'm not actually that bothered...)
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- 13-04-2011 10:28
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BethanArianwen
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- 13-04-2011 10:28
It's not a complete waste of time and not every student wastes it.
There are some students like me who actually use it on things like food and travel.
There are sxome students who live on their own and depend on this money to live
Also, if they get rid of EMA altogether then there are going to be so many drop outs because i know what people will opt for work as they are actually getting payed. -
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- 13-04-2011 10:39
One thing that really annoyed me about EMA kids was the fact they were always saying stuff along the lines of: "You only hate it because you don't get it."
Well, yes. It's ridiculous how two people can both go into college every week, do the same amount of work, and only one of them gets the bonus from it.
Also, there's people who I know who have completely fiddled the system. One girl, who shall not be named, has a really rich family (she drives an Audi TT for crying out loud) and she's managed to get EMA off the government by god only knows what means.
And purely because my parents earn over the bracket doesn't mean we can afford stuff! I have to pay for all my own school equipment, from a job I do not have, because my parents can't afford to pay for it all, we've got 3 cars, a mortgage, and my incompetent older brother who can't seem to pay his own mortgage half the time.
I also hate the fact that pensions are taken into account. My dad was in the RAF for 27 years so he gets a good pension, but he's only 52, why is that being taken into account? He's not gonna get it for another 13 or so years!!!!
GRRR. -
Emma:-)
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- 13-04-2011 10:41
(Original post by judders :D)
i see the use of EMA from both sides, there are a large majority of pupils in my school that have it as 'extra money' and they are driving flashy cars. however i also see classmates who are extremely poor , who use the money on things such as getting the bus to school when its raining, the government needs to clamp down on who receives the EMA scheme, so that the school kids that dont need the money don't get it
There are quite a few people who actually need it and use it for whats its there for- books, school meals, trips etc. But theres also a lot of people who use it to go out and have a good time. I deffinately think there should be a clamp down on it and it should only be given to those who actually need it.
I do think its a bit unfair though that some get it and some dont- because with those whose parents earn more- it doesnt mean that the parents will give their children money, just because they have more of it. It was a bit like that for me. Whereas you see some people on lower incomes whos parents seem to get them everything. Thats not the case with everyone though. -
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- 13-04-2011 10:46
I get EMA
It should be scrapped. It's a waste of money.
Free bus transportation for under 18s instead! -
foldingstars45
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- 13-04-2011 15:28
(Original post by JonathanNorth)
The thing is I have been in your shoes and I have seen how easily abused it is. Abused in the sense that I didn't believe certain people should have been getting it and it should be more directed to people who actually succeed and who's family earn under a certain thresh hold.
I saw teachers just sign the EMA papers even though people weren't doing well and in my honest opinion weren't trying at-all to do their work. Money simply can't simply be the motivation for education, because that is what it has become with the EMA system.
If they could just funnel the EMA system to provide for free public transport to get to and from college, then I would support that.
If they would give vouchers to buy stationary/books from certain retailers, I would support that.
But if you want money to go out and spend on cloths, drink, partying, drugs or anything like that, earn the money with a job. I was doing two courses and I managed to get on alright. Though I will admit the EMA money helped a lot in regards to helping me and my sister have money in our pockets. So I'm not fully blasting EMA here.
I like what the Tories are currently doing, where only the people who most need help with funding will get the money. But I would equally like to see free transportation to and from college for students. I know what it is like not having much money in your pocket, I've been in that situation which is why I had 2 jobs and 3 at my peak.
2) "I saw teachers just sign the EMA papers even though people weren't doing well and in my honest opinion weren't trying at-all to do their work" that is the teachers fault, teachers should be told that if kids aren't working hard enough, they shouldn't get the money.
3) I need £30 a week, but I don't live on a bus route to school - therefore I don't get public transport, I have to walk. So people who live nearer their schools/colleges would miss out if it were awarded just for transport
4) It isn't just stationary/books that are needed. I use my EMA to fund lunch, uniform, trips, calculators, as well as stationary. And also, we should have a right to shop where we want rather than just at 'certain retailers' - and just vouchers for certain retailers could cause problems in some areas.
5) A job isn't an option for many people. Either there are none available, or it just isn't practical to fit in with level 3 studies.
In my opinion, EMA should only be given to people studying Level 3 courses - and if they were to scrap it for anybody, it should be the people who get £10 per week. -
DrSwitched
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- 13-04-2011 17:31
Tbh, let's just go socialist :P
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Shortarse1
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- 13-04-2011 18:52
(Original post by WelshBluebird)
The problem with that is you are only really punishing the people who do really need it.
For those, they cannot afford to pay travel costs and stuff upfront. That is part of the point of EMA. -
hiyamynameissoph
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- 14-04-2011 00:51
(Original post by leeeasa)
i work, study and still have a social life
at the end of the day EMA is a waste of tax payers money, taxes that i have to pay to fund someone's alcohol habit. if people want to get pissed every weekend then fine, but do it with their own money, not with EMA money wich to be quite frank could be spent on better things than a bunch of kids who are gonna spend it on a bottle of vodka and primark clothes, wich at the end of the day is what 90% of them do with it.
Put yourself in this position: you're a young carer, a gypsy traveler, someone from a low socio-economic background. Your parents are telling you to drop out, get a job because you need to pay towards the rent/food/utilities. If there's no ema, what resources are there for young people like that to remain in education?
I'm actually against some aspects of ema, I do think it should be means-tested like other people have suggested and should be given in special circumstances, rather than handed out to everyone. I suggest you be a little more sensitive before making judgments about things you know absolutely nothing about. -
JonathanNorth
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- 16-04-2011 08:24
(Original post by foldingstars45)
2) "I saw teachers just sign the EMA papers even though people weren't doing well and in my honest opinion weren't trying at-all to do their work" that is the teachers fault, teachers should be told that if kids aren't working hard enough, they shouldn't get the money.
(Original post by foldingstars45)
3) I need £30 a week, but I don't live on a bus route to school - therefore I don't get public transport, I have to walk. So people who live nearer their schools/colleges would miss out if it were awarded just for transport.
(Original post by foldingstars45)
4) It isn't just stationary/books that are needed. I use my EMA to fund lunch, uniform, trips, calculators, as well as stationary. And also, we should have a right to shop where we want rather than just at 'certain retailers' - and just vouchers for certain retailers could cause problems in some areas.
(Original post by foldingstars45)
5) A job isn't an option for many people. Either there are none available, or it just isn't practical to fit in with level 3 studies.
I know what it is like to be at a disadvantage, but the state can't give money out the way they were doing it. Which is why I support the new way of doing it, because it specifically helps those doing well and who are at the most disadvantage. -
Paint-a-Picture
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- 16-04-2011 08:33
I totally agree. There are only a very few people who actually need it and use it for good. I say if you really need cash then GET A JOB dammit!
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foldingstars45
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- 16-04-2011 16:26
(Original post by JonathanNorth)
That's my point though. It wasn't well regulated.
You wouldn't really miss out seeing as you don't have to pay for transport in the first place. Where in the case of those who live near-by, you don't have that issue.
Sorry but if you want lunch, I don't think an education system should be paying for it. That is why I had 2 jobs, and I could have got a long with one and still had money for lunch/food.
I did 2 level 3 courses, came out with great results, and yet I found time to do all my work, and have 2 jobs. At times it wasn't ideal, but it was doable.
I know what it is like to be at a disadvantage, but the state can't give money out the way they were doing it. Which is why I support the new way of doing it, because it specifically helps those doing well and who are at the most disadvantage.
And I can't actually get a job, so, yeah, I do need my EMA for my lunch.
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