Student loans are being processed above the national average in Essex.

Essex County Council has outperformed the national average despite nationwide problems with new software that has been introduced.

All authorities were experiencing problems in processing loan applications because of the problematic software introduced by the Department for Education and Skills (DFES).

The new software is Internet based and requires a lot more information than the software that was previously used. Unfortunately some students have not supplied all the necessary information required on the application forms and this has led to some delays.

The Council has revealed that all students who got their applications in by the deadline set by the government, and who filled out their forms correctly, have had their applications processed.

Staff are now working through the applications that were sent in late. They have processed over 13,000 applications with around 2,500 partly processed and another 400 still waiting approval.

Published Monday September 20, 2004

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