million+ comment on latest figures from the Student Loan Company
Figures from the Student Loan Company which confirm that thousands of students are still waiting to receive a first payment from the SLC have been described as troubling by the university think-tank million+. Million+ has previously pointed out that universities were using hardship funds to support students who were commencing their university studies but had been left without funding by processing delays in the SLC.
Pam Tatlow Chief Executive of the university think-tank million+ said ‘The SLC is clearly having great difficulties in clearing the backlog. This needs to happen before students who are starting courses in January 2010 begin applying for loans. It is very troubling that up to 146,000 students are still waiting for their first payment in spite of having their loans approved. 39,000 students have been given only an interim assessment and have received only basic funding. Many who rely on means-tested loans will be anxious that they do not yet know what they are entitled to and universities will have lent money from their hardship funds in the hope that these students will be able to repay at a later date.
The Government’s review team will need to examine carefully whether the SLC has given students the correct advice about confirming their attendance at university and must explain why the SLC had not been able to manage applications in 2009 more effectively n spite of its previous assurances to Ministers’.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education. www.millionplus.ac.uk
- The full figures are available here: www.slc.co.uk/statistics/facts%20and%20%20figures/index.html
- For more information please contact Pam Tatlow on 0207 7171655 or 07795 645241