8:26pm Wednesday 3rd September 2008
Hundreds of Oxfordshire teenagers have been hit by delays in the payment of their student grants.
The Learning and Skills Council said up to 150,000 students across the country are still waiting to hear if their EMA application has been approved, after the company hired to deliver the grants - Liberata - hit technical problems with their online system and telephone lines.
Last night, college principals in Oxfordshire said it could jeopardise the education of hundreds of teenagers.
They fear 16- to 18-year-olds, who were banking on receiving the first instalment of their weekly Education Maintenance Allowance before the new academic year started this week, will struggle financially and could even drop out unless payments are made within the next few days.
Colleges in Oxfordshire held out the prospect of using their own funds to help struggling students with loans until payments came through.
The allowance, worth up to £30 a week, is available for students from low-income backgrounds who are studying A-Levels or vocational qualifications. It was set up by the Government to encourage more teenagers to stay in education after the age of 16.
Sally Dicketts, principal of Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, said a "high proportion" of her college's 3,000-odd 16-18-year-olds would have applied for the EMA.
She said: "Obviously if our students haven't got them it's a concern because many of them need the money for day-to-day college expenses.
"If they are concerned, and there's an issue about whether they can survive at college, they should come and see if we can make some allowances and give students support, which they could pay back once they have received their money.
"My fear is people could be prevented from coming to learn and I want this to be sorted out as soon as possible because these people are among the most financially disadvantaged."
Teresa Kelly, principal of Abingdon and Witney College, said just a "handful" of the 600 pupils expected to have applied for the allowance had received it.
She said: "This is an issue of deep concern to us. They will vote with their feet and leave if they don't get it. I am hoping it will be resolved very quickly. For some of them it is an essential source of income."
Rob Wye, of the Learning and Skills Council, said: "We have experienced some immediate issues and are working hard to solve these to ensure learners receive payments promptly."
Have you been affected by the grant delay?
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