AQW 35751/11-15 Written question to the Minister for Employment and Learning
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning how many applications from students studying at the (i) Northern Regional College; and (ii) North Western Regional College, for financial assistance from the Further Education Fund and the College Hardship Fund, were rejected.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 10 September 2014
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 10 September 2014
- Answer due by
- 25 September 2014
- Answered
- 26 September 201416 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Employment and Learning
- Priority question
- No
Answer
In the last five academic years, the number of students studying at the Northern Regional College and North West Regional College who have received funding from Further Education Awards and the Hardship Fund and the number who have had applications rejected from both funds are as follows:
| Further Education College | Academic Year | Number of students who applied for Further Education Award | Number of students who received Further Education Award | Number of students whose application was rejected |
| (i)NRC | 2013/14 | 618 | 508 | 110 |
| 2012/13 | 602 | 487 | 115 | |
| 2011/12 | 463* | 463 | *Data not available | |
| 2010/11 | 631 | 383 | 248 | |
| 2009/10 | 544 | 335 | 209 | |
| (ii)NWRC | 2013/14 | 912 | 675 | 237 |
| 2012/13 | 835 | 628 | 207 | |
| 2011/12 | 633* | 633 | *Data not available | |
| 2010/11 | 1036 | 616 | 420 | |
| 2009/10 | 1033 | 639 | 394 |
*Data for 2011/12 not available by college.
| Further Education College | Academic Year | Number of students who applied for hardship funding | Number of students who received hardship funding | Number of students whose application was rejected |
| (i)NRC | 2013/14 | 165 | 134 | 31 |
| 2012/13 | 145 | 115 | 30 | |
| 2011/12 | 151 | 118 | 33 | |
| 2010/11 | 122 | 113 | 9 | |
| 2009/10 | 151 | 139 | 12 | |
| (ii)NWRC | 2013/14 | 516 | 424 | 92 |
| 2012/13 | 579 | 480 | 99 | |
| 2011/12 | 469 | 388 | 81 | |
| 2010/11 | 457 | 362 | 95 | |
| 2009/10 | 592 | 511 | 81 | |
Question AQW 35759/11-15
Eligible students must apply through the Western Education and Library Board for a Further Education Award before they can be considered for assistance through college Hardship Funds. Anyone who is refused a Further Education Award is advised individually by the Board that they may apply to their college for help through Hardship Funds.
The colleges do not record statistical data in the manner requested and so cannot confirm how many students received help through Hardship Funds after being refused assistance through Further Education Awards.