Scrapping this excellent benefit is one of the Coalition’s more serious mistakes. This claims to be a government with education at the heart of its programme (don’t they all!). Some of its tinkering with school structures are simply meddlesome and pander to minority pressure groups. Others, like making sense of a stressful and inefficient exam system and demanding recognition of the need to achieve in core subjects, rather than hobbies, to reverse the decline in our world education standing, are to be welcomed.
There was real value in giving an allowance to those who wanted to continue with their education but needed some help with fares and food. The EMA gave some independence and support at just the right moment and was fully in line with the government’s educational objectives. Scrapping it will do more harm than good. It also, not for the first time, makes the unfolding policies of this administration look muddled and contradictory.
Worst of all it attacks the education prospects of the children of the least well off in our society. That is, frankly, crass. There will be a political price to pay and deservedly so.