Aid for student parents falls

THE number of single-parent students receiving financial support has dropped by 10 per cent, despite record numbers attending universities.

These latest figures mark the second successive fall with a drop of 3.5 per cent the previous year.

Claire Baker, Labour's higher education spokeswoman, has now called on the Scottish Government to do more to support parents in higher education.

She said: "Childcare is a significant barrier – either putting people off going to university, affecting students' ability to get the most out of their study or leading to them dropping out."

Last year, the Scottish Government agreed to allocate 2 million extra for university discretionary funds to use for childcare for student parents.

But student leaders warned parents at college and university may be forced to drop out without better support.

Kainde Manji, women's officer at the National Union of Students Scotland, said: "I'm very worried student parents in Scotland have been unable to access the help they need."

Single parent Hazel Walker, a second-year psychology undergraduate at Aberdeen University, said she had never received additional support. "Every year I have to run about like a maniac to find out where I can get funding," she said.