Fewer youngsters from a deprived background are receiving "lifeline" payments to help them stay on at school or college, new figures have revealed.
A total of 32,395 high school and college students received an education maintenance allowance (EMA) in 2014-15, a drop of 2,560 from the previous academic year.
The number of youngsters living in the most deprived areas benefiting from the £30 a week payments also fell last year, going from 11,875 to 11,185, according to Scottish Government figures.
But the proportion of EMA recipients living in the most disadvantaged communities reached 35% - an increase of one point on 2013-14 and the highest share on record.
A total of £25.9 million was spent on the payments, which are awarded to 16 to 19-year-olds, in 2014-15, down by £2.4 million from the previous year.
School pupils received £18.6 million of the total, £1.8 million less then in 2013-14, while college students were awarded £7.3 million, a decrease of £600,000.
Almost a third (31%) of 16 to 19-year-olds at school received an EMA last year, with a fifth of full-time college students of this age also benefiting.
The decrease in the number of students receiving EMAs comes after the Scottish Government increased the income thresholds for the payments in January this year.
Annabelle Ewing, minister for youth and women's employment, said: "The education maintenance allowance is a lifeline for tens of thousands of young people and their families to make it easier for them to take the decision to stay in school or further education, and in doing so increase their chances of leaving school with qualifications that will help them into sustainable employment or pursue further learning or training.
"If we are going to make our society fairer, our education system has to be our priority. We don't want our young people to feel disadvantaged if they stay in school or continue to college.
"We want to support young people in low-income families, which is why we increased the income threshold and opened up EMAs up to even more young people.
"This is in direct contrast to the UK Government, which has scrapped the programme in its entirety in England.
"We're working to close the educational attainment gap in many ways. The £180 million Attainment Fund, our £500 million funding for early learning and childcare, increased targets for Modern Apprentice opportunities and enlisting experts to widen access and develop the young workforce are all helping us support families, open up education and give young people hope for their future, regardless of their background."
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