Petition Extend the Parents' Learning Allowance to include part-time students
The Parent's Learning Allowance is the main option for parents seeking a higher education grant, and is limited to full-time undergraduate courses or Initial Teacher Training. This unintentionally sidelines many women and mothers. We want this allowance extended to all part-time parent learners.
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As it stands, we believe eligibility for the Parents' Learning Allowance inadvertently discriminates against women and in particular mothers. Women and mothers are far more likely to pursue part-time education, but this grant is currently not available to them, and there are also restrictions on student loans for part-time students. Mothers can be put at a further disadvantage because this system overlooks childcare costs. We have seen the effects of restrictions on financial support for part-time higher education courses already: since 2012 fewer women have enrolled in part-time higher education courses because they cannot afford to.
At 10,000 signatures...
At 10,000 signatures, government will respond to this petition
At 100,000 signatures...
At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament