Andy Burnham has been urged to revive an allowance scheme axed by the Conservatives that provided young students from poorer families with up to £30 per week.
Trades Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary Paul Nowak told The Mirror that scrapping the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) was a "hammer blow" for children from low-income backgrounds in England.
EMA history and impact
EMA was introduced in 1999 and provided weekly payments of up to £30 to encourage young people to remain in education beyond compulsory schooling. The means-tested scheme was abolished in England in 2011 under George Osborne's austerity programme, but payments still continue in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Mr Nowak said Labour reintroducing a scheme similar to EMA could also assist the new Prime Minister in the government's mission to reduce the number of 16-24-year-olds classified as 'Neets' – those not in education, employment, or training. Just under one million young people fall into this category, with a government review on the issue due shortly.
TUC calls for Youth Learning Allowance
The TUC is now calling for a 'Youth Learning Allowance' to be made available to young people who have started an education or training course in further education between the ages of 16 and 20.
Mr Nowak told The Mirror: "A new youth learning allowance would support kids to stay in education - and help their long-term job prospects."
He added: "No matter your background, all young people should be able to stay in education or training without having to worry about their finances. But the Conservatives scrapped the EMA in 2011 - and replaced it with an inadequate scheme which didn't touch the sides."
Government recognition and historical criticism
"That decision has been a hammer blow to kids from low income backgrounds and their chances of staying in education after the age of 16," Mr Nowak said. "We know financial help can make the difference between staying on or walking away - and countries that lead the way in bringing their NEET rates down provide far more support.
"The government recognises this. That's why ministers have introduced a new bursary to support young people doing apprenticeships. It's time this principle was applied to post-16 education too."
EMA, which helped thousands of young people from lower-income families stay on at school post-16, was scrapped by the Coalition government 15 years ago. The move was criticised at the time by the then-Shadow Education Secretary, Mr Burnham, who called on the Tories and Lib Dems to rethink the "unfair decision to scrap EMA".
He said of his then opposite number Michael Gove: "He's taken a successful scheme – that boosted participation, attendance and attainment in post-16 education – and turned it into a total shambles."
