SCRAPPING weekly funding for pupils from low-income families has been met with anger.

But education chiefs are working on alternative schemes to provide funding for hundreds of pupils set to lose their Education Maintenance Allowance, or EMA, from next September.

EMA will close to new applicants in England from January.

On average, from £10 to £30 a week is given to students aged 16 to 19 from low-income families to cover college costs.

In East Lancashire colleges, up to 66 per cent of students receive the funding.

Yesterday demonstrations against the cuts were held at around 100 colleges across the country including the North West.

Blackburn College photography student Megan Townsend, 16, from Clitheroe, said she thought the cuts would put some people off going to college.

“EMA is really, really important,” she said. “It means I have the money to get supplies that relate to my course which can be expensive.

“Getting rid of EMA is not fair to parents. My parents and the parents of students who get it, don’t have that amount of money to give away.”

Stuart Smith, head of Thomas Whitham Sixth Form, said: “The system needed some change but they need to make sure the really needy get something.

"This decision puts more pressure on colleges.”

Principal of Accrington and Rossendale College Stephen Carlisle said they were looking at ways of helping pupils including direct funding, discounted or free books and equipment, and a transport fund.

Sarah Flanagan, of St Mary’s College, said: “We are concerned that students from low income families are being deprived of this very necessary support at the same time as the withdrawal of Aim Higher funding and a marked increase in tuition fees.”