This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/8401730.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Student loan 'failure' accusation 'Failure' by student loan company
(11 minutes later)
A report into university loan delays which has affected tens of thousands of students in England has criticised a "conspicuous failure" in service. Student leaders say that "heads must roll" after a report into university loan delays has found "conspicuous failures".
There have been widespread complaints about the Student Loans Company - with the problems still unresolved as the end of the university term approaches.There have been widespread complaints about the Student Loans Company - with the problems still unresolved as the end of the university term approaches.
The report found only 5% of phone calls were answered at the peak of delays.The report found only 5% of phone calls were answered at the peak of delays.
The National Union of Students says "heads must roll" after the "hardship and disruption" caused by delays. There were also lost documents, failures with equipment and problems with the online application system.
The report from Professor Sir Deian Hopkin also accuses the government of being "too distanced" from responding to problems that had been widely reported since August. "The poor leadership and management of the Student Loans Company has led to disruption and hardship for hundreds of thousands of students," says NUS president, Wes Streeting.
The Student Loans Company administers financial support for students on behalf of the government. "Given the catalogue of failures identified by this report, heads must roll if the public are to have any confidence in the SLC in the future. "
The report from Professor Sir Deian Hopkin also accuses the government of being "too distanced" from responding to problems with loans that had been widely reported since August.
In response, England's Higher Education Minister David Lammy says there should be changes in how the Student Loans Company is managed.In response, England's Higher Education Minister David Lammy says there should be changes in how the Student Loans Company is managed.
"I am now clear that decisive action is required to change the service and that the key to this is strengthening the leadership of the company," Mr Lammy says in a written statement."I am now clear that decisive action is required to change the service and that the key to this is strengthening the leadership of the company," Mr Lammy says in a written statement.
But he said it was for the Student Loans Company board to hold the executive to account.But he said it was for the Student Loans Company board to hold the executive to account.