asked the Minister for Education whether an anomaly exists in the higher education grants scheme in that a person who has been a student in a teacher training college is unable to obtain the further grant for post-graduate studies which is available to other graduates; and if she has any plans to remove this anomaly.
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants Scheme.
220.
Up to 1985 separate programmes of financial assistance were in operation to assist university students and students in teacher training colleges. The financial programmes in question are (a) the higher education grants scheme and (b) the colleges of education grants scheme.
Under the terms of the 1984 higher education grants scheme, a higher education grant, for either undergraduate or post-graduate courses cannot be made available to a person who has been a student in the teacher training college.
With effect from the 1985-86 academic year, the number of courses recognised for higher education grants purposes was extended to include courses in primary teacher training colleges. Thus since 1985, all qualified students in such colleges may have their grants renewed in respect of their attendance at approved post-graduate courses.