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Jersey higher education students will be getting a one-off payment in December to help them with the cost of living.
The Education Minister announced yesterday afternoon that the 1,500 students studying off-island – and those in Jersey but living alone – will be given a 7.2% rise on their current maintenance grant.
It comes after strong criticism from a local higher education funding pressure group.
When the Government's 'mini budget' to tackle the sharply rising cost of living was released over summer, the Student Loan Support Group told Express they were concerned that students had been left "out of sight and out of mind" with no direct support.
The only additional help that had been provided to students since 2018 in the student grant regulations was a maintenance increase of 2.9% by previous Education Minister Scott Wickenden this year.
Pictured: Current maintenance grant levels, in advance of the 7.9% top-up. (Government of Jersey)
However the actual rise in the cost of living in the UK, where most local students study, has been closer to 17% during this time, the Jersey Student Loan Support Group argued.
Speaking on behalf of the group at the time, Nikki Heath said: "Frustratingly we are no further forward with that than we were in 2018, but the rising costs for students and families are likely to start impacting how many can afford to study at all."
The group later conducted surveys on the cost of living for students and parents. The results were released this month.
Of 130 parents surveyed, more than half said they expected to have to 'top up' their child's cost of study by more than £600 per month, and around three in five said they were "very worried" about energy prices like electricity and gas going up.
It also revealed that many parents were looking to take on extra work, borrow money or take funds from their pension to help with their child's fees, while some were turning to remortgaging.
Pictured: Some parents said remortgaging was on the cards to help with higher education costs.
More than half of the group surveyed felt that the initial 2.9% maintenance grant rise was not enough.
The student survey reflected similar concerns, with one student commenting: "The funding is so poor and not up to date with inflation. The maintenance grant, the full amount, just covers rent. That in itself shows the inadequacy of the current funding. The very people that require full assistance, without parents' input, must be struggling on the current full maintenance grant. Clearly this needs to be adjusted to reflect today's costs."
Another added: "Either the grant maintenance needs to be increased or a student loan needs to be introduced. At the moment, local students are caught in the middle. The grant is obviously much needed and appreciated not falls well short of the real costs from entry level for those from lower incomes households is supposed to help but falls short which still leaves many unable to access HE off island which then has a knock-on effect for other bands."
The Government said yesterday that the one-off grant decision had been made following discussions with the Student Loan Support Group and the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel – the group of politicians with responsibility for scrutinising higher education policy.
The Government said that, when added to the previous 2.9% maintenance grant rise, the upcoming one-off payment of 7.2% "brings the total increase between 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to 10.1%, in line with the August UK Consumer Prices Index."
Deputy Inna Gardiner will be signing a law drafting order to get the change in motion next month, allowing for payments to be made before the end of the year.
Pictured: Education Minister Deputy Inna Gardiner.
"I am pleased to be able to announce this additional payment now, ahead of signing the order," Deputy Gardiner said.
"While officers continue to finalise the Law Drafting to make this payment happen, I know that many students and their families are concerned about the increase in cost of living and will want reassurance now.
"We provide maintenance grants to support the cost of going to university so that students, including those from lower-income families, receive assistance with costs of further study.
"University life has changed hugely in the last 10 years: in 2012, fees increased to an average of just over £9,000: there is more competition for courses, an increased focus on employability and – now – increases in living costs.
"This means it is only fair that our Student Finance system responds to these changes, starting with this increase. As outlined in the Ministerial Plan, I will be making further amendments to the Higher Education Order to increase grants for off-Island students, and tailor awards depending on where the student is studying.
"I am grateful for the support of the Council of Ministers, the Chief Minister and the Minister for Treasury and Resources in delivering this targeted and prompt measure this year."
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