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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. MARY
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 19th JANUARY 2010
Question
Would the Minister advise members of the Education, Sport and Culture Department's policy on supporting students financially in further education which is vocational, including part time studies off-Island?
Would the Minister advise members where the full policy and rates of support in relation to vocational courses may be found?
Answer
In response to the first question, I can advise the Deputy of St. Mary that, unlike higher education which is generally delivered by UK Universities and for which means-tested grants are available via my department, vocational further education is provided on-Island by Highlands College. A small number of students attend off- Island courses of higher education in subjects which may be considered as vocational in nature (e.g. events management), but these HND courses are equivalent to being part-way towards an undergraduate degree and are therefore classified as higher' rather than vocational' or further' education.
There are no charges made to local residents enrolled on full-time courses of vocational education at Highlands College. Low income families whose children remain in further education following compulsory schooling are eligible to apply for financial support via the Department through Social Security.
With regard to part-time study, the Department for Education Sport and Culture meets 75% of the course fees and the other 25% is met either by the employer or the student. The Department is not aware of any local students following part-time vocational further education courses off-Island.
In response to the Deputy 's second question, I can advise that ESC policy in respect of vocational further education is that these courses are provided, wherever possible, at Highlands College. The cost of tuition fees for vocational courses at Highlands College is met by the States of Jersey, and other costs, including living expenses, are met by the student's family. With regard to levels of support, beyond fee payments, I would advise the Deputy of St Mary to address his question to the Minister for Social Security who may be able to provide more detail on how income support assists full and part time students following programmes and courses of vocational further education.