THE EDITOR, Sir:THE ANNUAL problem of students crowding the Students' Loan Bureau to hand in their application forms is a cause for concern.
This has been the situation since I applied for my first loan five and a half years ago and something needs to be done about it.
The students can take the initiative to avoid this situation, but the truth of the matter is that most of them are not aware of the dilemma until they are in the situation, that is when they go to the Bureau to submit their forms on the final day of the application period.
One would think that the SLB, being the organising body and seeing the situation every year, would take the necessary steps to avoid this annual undesirable gathering of masses of discontented students.
There are several minor things that can be done to avoid this huge problem. For example, the Bureau could collect the forms in alphabetical order and set deadlines to accommodate smaller groups. For example, persons with surnames beginning with the letters A to E could have a deadline for April 3-7; those with surnames F to I on April 10-14, etc.
This would alleviate the problem of having all the students who barely meet the deadline coming in on the same day. I also want to say that the students were given a deadline, therefore, if they take in their forms before or on the deadline, they should be well accommodated.
The SLB must get its act together, organise its operations more efficiently and treat the students better. They deserve it.
I am, etc.,
KEMMEHI LOZER
9 Miles, Bull Bay, St. Andrew.
