DIGEST

摘要

Architects and students have hit out at the government's decision to scrap student maintenance grants, saying the move will deter budding architects from poorer backgrounds from going to university. The plans were first announced by George Osborne in the budget, but the change, which is expected to affect more than half a million students, went through without a debate or vote in the House of Commons last week (14 January). The changes will particularly affect Part 1 students, who at the moment can receive a grant of up to £3,387 a year if their family's income is less than £25,000. Vinesh Pomal, architect at Levitt Bernstein and RIBA presidential ambassadorfor young architects, said the move was a 'travesty' and that it would 'prevent students from lower economic backgrounds from reaching higher education.