Boarding allowance.

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32708, 10 September 1971, Page 10

Boarding allowance.

Sir,—l read with interest the announcement by the Minister of Education that the Government has decided to increase boarding allowances to university students and students attending technical institutes. Apprentices living away from home also receive boarding allowances. Why are students attending Lincoln College for the diploma course not entitled-to boarding allowances? Many of these students have the same qualifications as degree students; others have at least passed school certificate, some with a sixth-form year, yet not all of these students are entitled to a bursary, even. Boys starting life on farms are not paid high wages, yet to further their farming knowledge by attending Lincoln they are obliged to pay full board. Why the discrimination? After all, they, . like the apprentices and university students, are training 'for their chosen profession.— Yours, etc., FAIR PLAY, PLEASE. August 31, 1971. [The Minister of Education (Mr Taiboys) replies: ■“University bursaries are awarded on the basis of scholastic, qualifications obtained at secondary school and academic achievement at university; A student with higher school certificate is eligible to receive a boarding , allowance if it is necessary for him to live away from his parents' home to undertake a diploma course at Lincoln College. Persons who are admitted with university entrance or a sixth form certificate are entitled to a fees bursary only and do not receive allowances. The holder Of a fees bursary who completes a Diploma in Agriciib ture or Horticulture at Lincoln College automatically upgrades to a fees and allowances bursary for subsequent study at a university. Burs-

ary assistance for the diploma students at Lincoln College compares very favourably with that received by degree students. In cases where matriculation ,is not necessary to gain I entry to the course, the student is able to receive the same financial benefits as a degree student, even though his scholastic qualifications may be of a lower standard.”]