Green deputy criticises Cedies

(CS) Deputy of Déi Gréng Claude Adam has criticised that Cedies was still overwhelmed by student loan applications, despite the July 2010 reforms, causing long waiting times for students.

He especially reprimanded waiting times of up to eight weeks for the applications to be processed, leaving students without additional sources of income or family support under financial strain.

Higher education minister François Biltgen defended the Cedies service, saying that the case of an eight-week long wait cited by the deputy had been an isolated occurrence. He conceded that the administrative process involved in the handling of application took its time.

Between August 1 and December 20 last year, 12,867 applications for financial aid for 2011/2012 were received. In 12,154 cases the loan was granted, while 360 applications were refused and some 353 dossiers are still awaiting completion.

By December 20, of the granted loans 10,579 had been transferred, while 1,575 were still being processed.