University leaders worried about SLB crisis

Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer

The students’ associations at two of the country’s leading universities are expressing concern about the financial crisis at the Student’s Loan Bureau, (SLB).

SLB executive director Monica Brown disclosed at a parliamentary committee yesterday that the lending agency is finding it difficult to come up with the $4.2 billion needed to fund loans for the 2012-2012 academic year.

She said the agency has only sourced $1.7 billion of that amount and it is making attempts to secure the shortfall.

President of the Guild of Students at the University of the West Indies Daniel Wilson and his counterpart at the University of Technology, Karen Manning-Henry say students are very worried about the state of affairs.

Wilson says UWI students are uncertain about their future at the university.

Manning-Henry says the latest disclosure has added to the stress of students who are hoping to meet tomorrow’s deadline to pay fees or face deregistration.

She is calling on the government to move swiftly to address the financial problems at the SLB.

jerome.reynolds@gleanerjm.com