Teaching unions and the Save EMA campaign are now calling on government to reverse their decision or risk deterring students from low-income families from participating in further education.
Martin Doel, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said scrapping EMA could see support for the poorest young people shrinking from £574m annually to as little as £75m.
"We urge ministers to reconsider their decision that will disadvantage young people from low income families, severely limiting their career prospects which, in turn, will have an impact on the wider economy," he explained.
"We are particularly alarmed at the Department for Education’s decision to stop paying EMA in July 2011 to 16- to 18-year-olds, including those who will be half way through their course; government is also stopping new applications at the end of December before it has alternative arrangements in place."
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