The Scottish Executive hopes to widen participation in further and higher education with a £49 million programme that will give cash to young people who stay on at school or college.
Jim Wallace, Scotland's lifelong learning minister, this week announced the roll-out of the means-tested education maintenance allowance scheme, which gives young people beyond the compulsory leaving age up to £30 a week. Nearly 40,000 students are expected to benefit over the next three years.