THE number of pupils receiving a vital allowance that helps them stay on at school or college has fallen by more than 2,500.

Official statistics reveal an eight per cent decline in 16-19-year-olds claiming a £30-a-week Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in the last year alone with total numbers dropping to 29,135.

The decline saw the total pot of money spent on the EMA fund fall by £1.6 million to £23m. However, the number of pupils from the poorest backgrounds receiving the cash increased.

The Scottish Government blamed a drop in the number of pupils at school and the introduction of a more generous bursary for pupils.

John Swinney, the Education Secretary, said: “EMA is a demand-led programme and an entitlement in Scotland. The decrease in this year’s numbers can be attributed to a number of contributing factors, including a smaller population of young people, the broadening of learning and training opportunities and more attractive bursary packages available to learners in college.”

However, the political opponents argued not enough was being done to publicise the fund.

Iain Gray, education spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party, said: “With more and more young people now staying on at school, it is vital that all who are entitled to EMA are receiving it.

“There has been a small, but worrying rise in the proportion of young people leaving school with no qualifications at all and support such as EMA is vital to ensure this trend doesn't continue.”

Liz Smith, education spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: "The reduction in payments in the last year continues to raise serious questions about the effectiveness of this fund.

"It is very clear there are still plenty of young people across Scotland in need of financial support, so this reduction seems to indicate EMA is not proving to be the best way of assisting these students."

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), welcomed the increase in payments to young people from areas of severe deprivation.

But he added: "The overall decline in the value of payments must be a cause for concern. No young person should ever be forced from education for financial reasons, so it is essential the availability of EMAs is well publicised."

Ross Greer, education spokesman for the Scottish Greens, added: "Despite the government's smoke and mirrors, the number of young people receiving EMA has gone down by over 2,500, whilst child poverty itself has risen.

"What John Swinney didn't mention in his statement is that two thirds of children in poverty don't live in deprived postcodes, so whilst supporting those communities is important, it misses the overwhelming majority of young people living in poverty and in need of support."

To qualify for the allowance, households with one dependent child must be earning £24,421 per year or less. Households with more than one dependent child must be earning £26,884 or less, before tax.

The allowance is currently paid in addition to Child Benefit and other benefits. Young people on Job Seekers' Allowance or on government supported training schemes are not eligible for the cash.