Vice-Chancellor demands SLC simplicity
Wes Streeting, the President of the NUS, has stated that he has “no confidence” in the internal review currently being undertaken by the Student Loan Company (SLC). The SLC is responsible for making sure that students get the money they need to cope at University – for many this is their only source of income during their time here.
As reported in Issue 30 and many national newspapers over the summer, this year has seen various problems with the system which have meant that some students have not received their loans, or have not yet received the full amount to which they are entitled.
“It is completely unacceptable”, Streeting says, “for some of the poorest and most vulnerable students in the country to be left short of funds because of the incompetence of Student Finance England.” (Student Finance England was set up in 2008 by the SLC to process all applications for student support in England, while Scotland, Ireland and Wales have their own regulating bodies.)
Importantly, it is not only the NUS that are concerned about the failure of the new student loan system, but also our own Vice-Chancellor. During a House of Commons debate on the 14th October, a message about the issue from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Craven, was read out.
In the message to David Willets, MP, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledges the need for and urges action on the issue of delayed student loans. He notes student anger as the SLC fails to do its job: “Students are becoming very frustrated with lost applications, lost or not received duplicate applications, failure to alert the student of insufficient documentation until the student rings them and then being put to the back of the system on receipt of these”.
This message from the Vice-Chancellor clearly shows that the University of Portsmouth is prepared to support the students that are having problems with the SLC. He goes on to state that the University has given out 217 emergency loans and grants because people have not yet received the support they need from the SLC. Whilst this may seem like a small percentage of the student population, it is nonetheless indicative of the approximated 176,000 students’ applications that have yet to be processed. The Vice-Chancellor also calls for the system to be “simple and accessible” which it is currently not, because, due to the flawed system, the University has allowed the deferment of accommodation payments for students that have not yet received their loans. Without this money many students have found the start of this academic year difficult to cope with, as they have been forced to focus more on budgeting than studies.
On the Parliamentary website the Deputy Chief Executive of the SLC is quoted as having an alarmingly relaxed attitude to the issue of missing documents, saying: “It’s a bit like losing your car keys—you think you have lost them, but they are in the house somewhere.” It is therefore obvious why Wes Streeting has no faith in an internal review, which will surely be carried about by the same senior management that considers the problem anecdotal and “reasonable”. Streeting has demanded that: “Ministers must now step in to ensure that the management of the SLC are held to account.”
Parliamentary debate is a step forward in sorting out the management of the SLC but it is immediate action which is required for those students who still have not received the promised support. Not only must the SLC be held accountable for their failed system but they must also resolve any remaining issues without any further delay; the people who apply for loans are the people that need them most. The mistakes made this year cannot be made again next year. Have you had problems with your loan? Let us know your experiences.
