§ Mr. WoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the findings of the pilot areas for education maintenance allowances; and when the scheme will be extended to the rest of the country. [22179]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) pilots are subject to a rigorous three-year evaluation study.
Early findings from the evaluation show that EMA appears to have raised participation in education. The statistical analysis estimates an average gain in participation in pilot areas compared to control areas, among EMA eligible young people, of around 5 percentage points. These findings were published in March this year.
Although we do not yet have figures on attainment, the qualitative aspect of the evaluation has found some evidence of a positive effect on young people's commitment to study, and their performance.
However, although these first findings are encouraging, it is important that we do not make any decisions on the future of EMAs until we have received further evaluation evidence.