Students drop out over delay in grants

DOZENS of hard-up students are dropping out of college every week because of massive delays in issuing grants.

Maintenance grants are supposed to be paid in three instalments over the academic year. But more than 2,000 students have still not received their first payment, which should been issued in September last year.

Up to 50 students a week have had to quit their courses because they can no longer afford to study, according to the national students’ union.