Cash incentive too low

College heads have warned that education maintenance allowances, available from September to 16-year-olds from low-income families, may not be enough to significantly reduce dropout rates. The government launched a promotional campaign this week for the scheme, which offers £30 a week to those who stay on in education or training. But the Association of Colleges pointed out that government research found that the most successful pilots of the scheme were those paying £40 a week.