Scottish pupils to be paid

The executive wants children to stay on

Some of Scotland's poorest pupils are to be paid to stay on at school after 16 under a new government initiative.

A pilot project is already underway in East Ayrshire, but on Monday Henry McLeish, the Scottish Executive's lifelong learning minister, announced that it is to be extended.

Mr McLeish hopes that by offering pupils, in areas with the highest rates of school leaving, up to £40 a week they will be persuaded to stay on for fifth and sixth year.

A third of Scottish school pupils leave at the age of 16, while only 43.4% complete the full six years.

Sometimes they end up out of work, education or training through peer pressure or lack of family support.

Additional £4m

The extension of the East Ayrshire scheme forms part of an executive programme aiming to help youngsters with the ability to study and gain good qualifications.

The scheme is to be backed by an additional £4m - initially three more areas will be included, before the programme is rolled out across the country.

Mr McLeish said: "The investment in learning is crucial to future economic growth and property. I want to use a significant part of this increase to bring in more students from groups in the community who have not entered higher education in a major way.

"That is why I am directing a total of £18m to widening access and increasing student numbers."

The pupils who will take part in the scheme will be expected to sign a learning agreement - a commitment to do their homework and behaving properly.

The education maintenance allowances were also piloted in 15 areas of England last year and proved so successful they were extended to another 40 areas in the Budget in March.