Ministers 'losing grip on EMAs'

A-level student Luke Brewer is still waiting for his money

Failures with delivering education allowances are still unresolved - and a leading college principal says ministers must have "lost their grip".

Nigel Robbins, awarded an OBE for his services to further education, says the government appears to lack control over its agency's outsourcing project.

The delay in payment has now stretched beyond two months.

Schools minister Jim Knight said the backlog of students waiting for allowances had fallen to 40,000.

'Cocked up'

Mr Knight said the delay in the delivery of EMA payments was completely unacceptable and the Learning and Skills Council was working with the outsourced company, Liberata, to resolve the problems.

Mr Robbins is principal of Cirencester College in Gloucestershire, and he says that at present about 200 of his students are still waiting for the means-tested payments, intended to help young people stay in education.

"I get the impression ministers have lost their grip on things - partly because so much has been outsourced.

Nigel Robbins wants to see someone take charge of the EMA problem

"They can no longer manage this, they're no longer in control," said Mr Robbins.

The problems with delivering the education maintenance allowances have deeply angered the further education sector - not least because they saw this as such a successful scheme.

The payments, aimed at the least well-off families, are credited with persuading more young people not to drop out of education at the age of 16.

Mr Robbins says it has been "hugely frustrating" that what he says has been a real success story has now been "completely cocked up".

"What has really upset me is that this is a really good scheme, one of the best things that this government has put in place for education," he says.

Mr Robbins also voices an opinion heard from colleges that there would have been much greater urgency from the government if this had affected middle class university students or sixth formers.

He also resents an apparent lack of taking responsibility.

"There's no sense of anyone seeming to realise how much of a mistake has been made. It is disgraceful," says Mr Robbins.

An A-level student at the college, 18-year-old Luke Brewer, is also vehement in his criticism of the nine-week delay. He is particularly angry at the difficulties with the helpline.

"The biggest problem is trying to get in touch. It's like trying to communicate with a brick wall," he says.

The idea behind the allowance is to stop youngsters from drifting off into low-skilled jobs - by giving them some spending money.

But now he says, without any allowance, students are cutting back on food, struggling to borrow money for travelling to college and have no money for any leisure.

In terms of the message, he says it seems to be saying "we'll educate those who have got the money. It's been a really bad experience".

There is also a frustration that no one is listening to their problem.

"Students feel powerless. They feel it's pointless trying to take on big organisations," he says.

The president of the Association of Colleges, David Collins, highlighted his concern that the allowances were still being disrupted by administration problems.

"College staff have continued to support students in difficult circumstances but they are frustrated that the problems have still not been fully resolved," he said.

"There has been some progress but the administration of the system is not at the professional standard required."

The government agency responsible for the allowances is the Learning and Skills Council.

In terms of applying any sanctions on the outsourcing company, Liberata, the council put out a statement from David Hughes, Regional Director for London.

�We cannot comment on contract issues between the LSC and Liberata; they remain commercial in confidence."

There are about 600,000 students who should be receiving the allowances - but administration problems at Liberata saw many applications caught in a backlog.

Add your comments on this story, using the form below.

I am a single parent, and carer for my two youngest disabled sons on benefits as i am unable to work due to my caring commitments. I have four children, the oldest of whom is working hard towards his future by doing A levels at College. His EMA was around 4 weeks late and I had to give him money... now again last week there was yet another delay in payment, again I had to give him money for his lunch and some college materials! This is just so unfair, and heads should roll - never mind about fining people how about paying interest to those students, or a goodwill payment for those in real hardship. It's a disgrace!
Francesca, Southampton

I am a single parent with 3 boys. The eldest is at university, his grant was delayed by 6 weeks, the middle son is at 6th form college and we are still waiting for his EMA and the youngest is still at school. I am on a very low income and receive NO maintenance as the CSA can't manage to extract any money from their father. These government agencies are a complete and utter joke, I am being let down on all sides because I want the best education for my boys.
Sheila, Southport

My neighbour's grandson has just finished a 14 week course - and is still waiting for his EMA. They were told at the start of the course that the EMA would be delayed "about a month". A couple of weeks ago he received a request for a parental bank statement - which had already been included with the original application. Luckily he could cycle to the course venue - but some students were having to pay full train fares to travel 20 miles every day. The original joke about his EMA lump sum arriving "by Christmas" has now become very prescient.
ChrisJK, UK

I'm a 16 year old kid and I don't claim EMA, i'm not struggling without payments, I've got a saturday job, �20 per week, why should others get �30 for nothing just because of their parents? I absolutely work myself silly doing four difficult A-levels, why don't I get paid for it? My parents don't give me much either. The whole EMA system is stupid, and just like SATS, they should get flushed away. The way 16-18 students get treated is so unfair.
Matt, London

As a recently retired teacher/tutor in a sixth form college I am well aware just how important EMA's are to financially hard pressed famillies ( tho' the bonus for attending and working seems a might over the odds). I am pleased that Nigel Robbins agrees with a point I have made a couple of times in posts on BBC blogs: that so many former functions of government have now been outsourced to the private sector that ministers can no longer exert control, or influence events quickly and directly, when things go wrong. By the same token, the ministers can in all fairness no longer be held responsible when the agencies fail. Outsourcing to the 'efficient private sector': another of Thatcher's pigeons coming home to roost.
peter robinson,

As a teacher and form tutor I am constantly being asked about the EMA payments. It is causing a hardship to many students worsened by the fact that some students are getting the payments while others get nothing and are still waiting. There is nothing the teachers can do about this situation and it is abundantly clear that heads should roll over this fiasco. Are there penalty clauses in Liberata�s contract?
Chris, Tunbridge Wells

Why should the tax payer have to pay children to stay at school in education, my 3 children received nothing, they all had to get weekend jobs, didn't do them any harm, are we supposed to be bringing children up to be scroungers?
Jane, rugby