AQW 35758/11-15


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 10/09/2014
Answered On Date: 26/09/2014
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the number of students studying at the (i) Northern Regional College; and (ii) North Western Regional College who have received financial assistance from (a) the Further Education Fund; and (b) College Hardship Funds, in each of the last five years.


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.