The latest statistics on Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) produced by the Welsh Assembly Government were released on 10 September 2008 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Wales scheme was introduced for 16 year olds for the first time in 2004/05. In 2005/06, the scheme was extended to include 16 and 17 year olds and, in 2006/07, 18 year olds.

The key points from the latest release are:

• In the 2007/08 academic year to date, 33,690 applications for EMA have been received. Of these, 31,460 have been approved whilst 770 have been rejected.
• In the 2008/09 academic year to date, 14,750 applications for EMA have been received.  Of these, 6,150 have been approved and 210 rejected.

 Further information can be found on the Statistics for Wales website.