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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Student allowance delays worsen | Student allowance delays worsen |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Delays to the education maintenance allowance system for some of England's poorest students have got worse not better, says the firm responsible. | Delays to the education maintenance allowance system for some of England's poorest students have got worse not better, says the firm responsible. |
| At least 162,000 students are caught up in the problems hitting the EMA scheme, which aims to help youngsters to stay in college after the age of 16. | At least 162,000 students are caught up in the problems hitting the EMA scheme, which aims to help youngsters to stay in college after the age of 16. |
| This has risen from 150,000 a month ago despite efforts by contractor Liberata to tackle its backlog of applications. | This has risen from 150,000 a month ago despite efforts by contractor Liberata to tackle its backlog of applications. |
| It blamed the rise on a spike in applications as the autumn term began. | It blamed the rise on a spike in applications as the autumn term began. |
| College principals say things have not got much better and that students and parents are still having problems with the telephone helpline. | College principals say things have not got much better and that students and parents are still having problems with the telephone helpline. |
| 'Less than optimal' | 'Less than optimal' |
| The scheme is UK-wide but the problems affect only England, where the administration was contracted out to the private firm Liberata. | The scheme is UK-wide but the problems affect only England, where the administration was contracted out to the private firm Liberata. |
| The government estimates that some 607,000 students will qualify for EMA this year, meaning more than one in four are affected by the delays. | The government estimates that some 607,000 students will qualify for EMA this year, meaning more than one in four are affected by the delays. |
| Students can get up to £30 a week to help pay their for their travel, books and other course costs. | Students can get up to £30 a week to help pay their for their travel, books and other course costs. |
| The BBC News website first revealed the scale of the problems at the beginning of September. | The BBC News website first revealed the scale of the problems at the beginning of September. |
| Since then a constant stream of e-mails from anxious parents and students has highlighted the continuing problems and how they are leaving some of the poorest students facing hardship. | Since then a constant stream of e-mails from anxious parents and students has highlighted the continuing problems and how they are leaving some of the poorest students facing hardship. |
| Liberata says it has employed some 1,000 extra staff to manually enter data into its computer system because the software is not working. | Liberata says it has employed some 1,000 extra staff to manually enter data into its computer system because the software is not working. |
| It says that between 10,000 and 12,000 applications are being resolved daily. | It says that between 10,000 and 12,000 applications are being resolved daily. |
| But because so many are still being received from new applicants the backlog has risen to 162,000 from the 150,000 it had reported at the beginning of September. | But because so many are still being received from new applicants the backlog has risen to 162,000 from the 150,000 it had reported at the beginning of September. |
| Struggling | Struggling |
| However, many of the students affected by the backlog will have applied several months ago. | However, many of the students affected by the backlog will have applied several months ago. |
| The delays have been caused by problems with the telephone helpline as well as the new computer system. | The delays have been caused by problems with the telephone helpline as well as the new computer system. |
| Liberata, the lead firm in a consortium, took over the EMA contract, along with two other educational support payments, in July 2007. | Liberata, the lead firm in a consortium, took over the EMA contract, along with two other educational support payments, in July 2007. |
| I don't think people understand that the people who aren't getting this money are the ones that really need it Kirsty, student from Cheshire | I don't think people understand that the people who aren't getting this money are the ones that really need it Kirsty, student from Cheshire |
| A spokesman said the computer system and the "telephony" for the scheme had been "fully spec'd" by its technology partners but that both were "less than optimal". | A spokesman said the computer system and the "telephony" for the scheme had been "fully spec'd" by its technology partners but that both were "less than optimal". |
| Meanwhile, thousands of students have been left struggling without their payments and some are even considering dropping out of their courses because they cannot make ends meet. | Meanwhile, thousands of students have been left struggling without their payments and some are even considering dropping out of their courses because they cannot make ends meet. |
| Contingency | Contingency |
| A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said there was no reason for pupils to face hardship because colleges could make payments, covered by the Learning and Skills Council, to cover them until EMA was sorted out. | A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said there was no reason for pupils to face hardship because colleges could make payments, covered by the Learning and Skills Council, to cover them until EMA was sorted out. |
| But this does not appear to be happening in all areas. | But this does not appear to be happening in all areas. |
| One student, Tom from Grimsby, wrote: "At our college nobody has had payments, some have been accepted but others still waiting, but we haven't been offered any emergency funds or anything." | One student, Tom from Grimsby, wrote: "At our college nobody has had payments, some have been accepted but others still waiting, but we haven't been offered any emergency funds or anything." |
| Another, Kirsty from Cheshire, said: "I really need this money as I have to pay for re-sits and school trips, which I can no longer afford to do. | Another, Kirsty from Cheshire, said: "I really need this money as I have to pay for re-sits and school trips, which I can no longer afford to do. |
| "I don't think people understand that the people who aren't getting this money are the ones that really need it." | "I don't think people understand that the people who aren't getting this money are the ones that really need it." |
| A spokesman for the Association of Colleges (AoC) said the problem with the contingency payments was that the LSC had promised to reimburse colleges rather than provide money in advance to help students. | A spokesman for the Association of Colleges (AoC) said the problem with the contingency payments was that the LSC had promised to reimburse colleges rather than provide money in advance to help students. |
| Not all colleges, especially the smaller ones, would have funds available to support learners facing hardship, he said. | Not all colleges, especially the smaller ones, would have funds available to support learners facing hardship, he said. |
| David Collins, AoC president and principal of South Cheshire College, said he was disappointed the problems were not being resolved more quickly. | David Collins, AoC president and principal of South Cheshire College, said he was disappointed the problems were not being resolved more quickly. |
| "Students and parents are still experiencing difficulties with the helpline and there is no real sign of the situation getting better. | "Students and parents are still experiencing difficulties with the helpline and there is no real sign of the situation getting better. |
| "At my college, only 40% of contracts have been issued in terms of what we would expect." | "At my college, only 40% of contracts have been issued in terms of what we would expect." |
| He added that while colleges could mitigate against the problem in the short term by helping students wherever possible through emergency funds, this was now becoming a long-term issue. | He added that while colleges could mitigate against the problem in the short term by helping students wherever possible through emergency funds, this was now becoming a long-term issue. |
| "We are meeting the Learning and Skills Council on Thursday (2 October) and this will be top of our agenda." | "We are meeting the Learning and Skills Council on Thursday (2 October) and this will be top of our agenda." |
| Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
| If the contractor didn't expect a spike in application numbers at the beginning of term, then they aren't the right contractor for the job.Allan Warhurst, Birmingham, UK | |
| We found the application form so deeply intrusive into our personal affairs that we didn't bother applying. It required information to be provided of a highly personal nature despite saying that the information was NOT needed to make an assessment, so why ask for it in the first place? Cut out the nosy parker side of the form and their troubles will be halved. ALL students should receive it.Tina Matthams, Brentwood Essex England | |