Tax On Students Abolished By SNP

Local students received a boost with the announcement that the new SNP government in Edinburgh are to abolish the student fees paid by students at the end of their course.

This has been welcomed by Falkirk West SNP MSP, Michael Matheson and will be a boost to the families of lower income students whose numbers going into higher education have been dropping over recent years.

The abolition of the Student Indemnity Tax will benefit each student to the tune of around £2,400 at the end of their course and is one of the SNP's initiatives to encourage more young people to enter High Education.

The high level of student debt is also being blamed as one of the factors that is seeing 25,000 young graduates a year leave Scotland every year with a knock on effect on the Scottish economy.

Said Michael Matheson

"One of the major issues within the recent election campaign was the treatment of Scottish students.

While other countries see Education as an investment the previous Labour / Liberal Executive appeared to view Higher Education as the domain of those who could afford to pay.

In one move the SNP has reversed this process and sent a clear message that students are valued."