EMA

G-MAN2004 · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:31

Noticed students protesting over this here recently. All of them moaning how they wouldn't be able to go to college without it, etc.

Am I the only one thinking most of them are lying? I swear every single person that was on EMA at my college just spent it on alcohol or whatever.

If they need it for buses, can't they have bus tickets? If they need books for college, give them book vouchers? Why does it need to be money?

trigger-happy · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:37

Actually no, students need to use the public transport which costs, they need to buy books and equipment especially coming to exam time. Also they need to buy themselves lunch. EMA is the motivation for students to come to college. Vouchers have no value to students anyway, people will still be selling the vouchers.

arknor · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:38

ofcourse they dont really need it its just most are to lazy to get a job!

30quid is easy pocket money... my stepson works in a nightclub and still manages 6th form

Danthus · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:38

trigger-happy said:
Actually no, students need to use the public transport which costs, they need to buy books and equipment especially coming to exam time. Also they need to buy themselves lunch. EMA is the motivation for students to come to college.

I did all of that, as have millions of others before even the idea of EMA was dreamed up.

dave_beast · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:40

Ema cheque = spending spree. Never got it myself and a few people I knew of, their parents had managed to get it for them through fiddling etc.

trigger-happy · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:40

I know a friend who struggles to get £10 off his mother due to the jobs they have. He does not get pocket money at all. I suppose EMA is considered a blessing to some students.

Freelanc3r · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:40

I go to college, and I'm not eligibile for EMA (normally £30 a week)
My weekly expendature is about £15 (Weekly bus pass)
My parents don't give me money, I work every saturday at OcUK for my money. Instead of just earning £30 for going to college. This is what every student who's moaning about it needs to do?! they can't say they don't have enough spare time, I go to college 5days a week, work 1day a week with an hour bus trip there and back. I have plenty of time.
Plus any of my friends who get it don't actually spend it on 'study resources' it's either new clothes or booze, lol.

/Jealousy

Trifid · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:41

trigger-happy said:
Actually no, students need to use the public transport which costs, they need to buy books and equipment especially coming to exam time. Also they need to buy themselves lunch. EMA is the motivation for students to come to college. Vouchers have no value to students anyway, people will still be selling the vouchers.

What did they do before EMA and 16?

Randomface74 · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:42

My mates and I got EMA when we were at college - we either splashed it on ****, or saved it, and splashed it on **** later.

G-MAN2004 · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:42

trigger-happy said:
Actually no, students need to use the public transport which costs, they need to buy books and equipment especially coming to exam time. Also they need to buy themselves lunch. EMA is the motivation for students to come to college. Vouchers have no value to students anyway, people will still be selling the vouchers.

Your first two points were covered in the OP.

If people need EMA to even bother going to college, then they shouldn't be there in the first place. :confused:

Edit: as for needing lunch, people at my college who were on EMA got food vouchers.

James J · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:42

OldCoals said:
I did all of that, as have millions of others before even the idea of EMA was dreamed up.

Indeed, same here. I had a job on a saturday and sunday at a local store which earned me enough money to have a pretty easy live at college. Why should people just get given the money instead of work for it like normal folk? When your 16/17 its amazingly easy to get weekend jobs anyway simply due to the fact you on the lowest bracket of min wage!

trigger-happy · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:42

Trifid said:
What did they do before EMA and 16?

Books are provided by teachers and under 16 bus travel passes are available.

Al Vallario · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:44

trigger-happy said:
Actually no, students need to use the public transport which costs, they need to buy books and equipment especially coming to exam time. Also they need to buy themselves lunch. EMA is the motivation for students to come to college. Vouchers have no value to students anyway, people will still be selling the vouchers.

Give them a (unique, with photo id so they can't sell it on) bus pass, free school meals, some W H Smith stationary vouchers and send them packing.

Transport costs I can understand, albeit only in certain cases. Most of the folk I knew who received EMA lived within walking/cycling distance of school/college and never spent a penny on transport.

£30 per year would be more than enough for stationary, let alone per week! :eek:

Danthus · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:44

Am I correct in saying EMA is paid in cash and wide open to abuse?

Freelanc3r · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:45

OldCoals said:
Am I correct in saying EMA is paid in cash and wide open to abuse?

Paid direct to the students bank account, and yes. Can spend it on whatever

phil0316 · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:46

trigger-happy said:
Actually no, students need to use the public transport which costs, they need to buy books and equipment especially coming to exam time. Also they need to buy themselves lunch. EMA is the motivation for students to come to college. Vouchers have no value to students anyway, people will still be selling the vouchers.

What about students that don't get EMA ? They still have the above costs attributed to being a student ?

This could mean someone on EMA can afford not to have a part-time job, Where as a student without EMA requires a part-time job ? Not really fair.

However, When I was at college most people spent thier EMA on alcohol....

dave_beast · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:46

Btw guys, Ema is paid for college students, so generally only available to over 16's.

muon · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:47

The whole point originally was that it was a bribe to encourage students to do A-levels rather than getting stuck in minimum wage jobs or the dole.

Since they're making post-16 education compulsory, I see no point in it.

POB · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:48

The scheme was flawed anyway.

When I went to college it was the first year of it I think as Cornwall was part of the pilot.

However the upper parents earning limit was low at around £30,000.

So I was not eligible, still by not getting it I avoided going to tutorial and general studies!

trigger-happy · 11 Jan 2011 at 18:48

Al Vallario said:
Give them a (unique, with photo id so they can't sell it on) bus pass, free school meals, some W H Smith stationary vouchers and send them packing.

Transport costs I can understand, albeit only in certain cases. Most of the folk I knew who received EMA lived within walking/cycling distance of school/college and never spent a penny on transport.

£30 per year would be more than enough for stationary, let alone per week!

Times have changed, people don't want vouchers, kids will be selling them! no one wants to eat school dinners! They can get cheaper deals at Tesco with the meal deal.

Btw on the note on vouchers some sixth formers know how to make a voucher believe it or not.