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More than 2000 teenagers across the city already benefit from the allowance introduced last year to encourage more young people to stay on in full-time education.

The Education Maintenance Weekly Allowance (EMA) is a pilot scheme set up by the Government to increase the number of young people staying in full-time education after the statutory school leaving age of 16.

It has been extended for a further year from September 2001 after studies showed it had encouraged young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to continue their education.

To qualify for and EMA young people must live in Manchester and must be aged 16 or 17 and planning to start a full-time course in September.

A minimum allowance of ?5 a week and a maximum of ?30 a week will be paid depending on parental income (which must not exceed ?30,000 a year) for up to two years.

When signing up for the scheme, young people must make a learning agreement with their college. A ?50 bonus is paid at the end of each term to reward good attendance and a further ?50 for reaching learning targets.

Councillor Bernard Stone, Manchester City Council's education executive, said: "I am very pleased that so many young people have taken advantage of this scheme and I hope many more continue to sign up.
"Qualifications - either academic or vocational - are the key to future success for young people and we are determined to do all we can to help young people achieve the necessary qualifications to enable them to find meaningful employment later in life."