Delays in the issuing of grant awards letters have left about 130 island students with an anxious wait.

Education chiefs say that, while some students have still yet to receive their letter detailing the award for the coming year, none will be adversely affected.

The issue was raised in a Tynwald question by David Ashford (Douglas North), who wanted to know what the reason was behind the delay.

Education Minister Graham Cregeen said a new system was introduced last year, allowing semi-automated letter notifications to be sent by email. A similar system is being used for the issuing of student loan agreements.

But an issue was identified, relating to the ’design, testing and reprogramming of the final awards process’.

He added: ’As this semi-automated awards process was being developed for the first time it was considered important that the letters were checked to ensure the correct value was shown on awards letters issued to students.’

This caused delays, but did not prevent the issue of award letters.

He continued: ’Awards cannot be finalised until all scheme criteria have been satisfied and there can be a number of delay factors, including the receipt of A level results, UCAS confirmation of places, confirmation of results from universities for second-year students and verification of income details.’

About 130 students were affected across the two cohorts of students (first and second year) using the new system.

Mr Cregeen said they would receive their letters shortly.

’None of these students will be adversely affected as a result of these delays,’ he said.