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Wednesday 24 January 2024

Jersey university students were left in the dark over the status of their finance applications this week –apparently as a result of the vote of no confidence in the Chief Minister.

Several students received messages from government this week informing them that their applications could not be processed because the 'Purdah' period before a replacement for Kristina Moore and her Council of Ministers meant that work "must be paused".

Nicki Heath, who runs the Student Loans Support group, and Education scrutineer Deputy Catherine Curtis, have both said that "the normal business of government" should continue even in the time before a new Chief Minister is elected.

Nicki, who has been involved with the non-political Student Loans Support group since 2015, said that she had initially been made aware of the issues by a student who had submitted their HE1 form - the initial form that student finance applicants have to submit.

Instead of receiving the follow-up HE2 form, which would allow them to declare their income, they were told: "Unfortunately due to the vote of no confidence which occurred on Tuesday, Student Finance falls into Purdah territory, which means a lot of our work must be paused until this period is over."

She added that later, other students had contacted her saying they had received the HE2 form – only to then be told it was recalled due to purdah.

Purdah is the pre-election period during which time Government Ministers are not allowed to make any decisions or announcements that could be politically advantageous to them in the forthcoming election.

However, Deputy Curtis highlighted that "ministers retain executive responsibilities, and the essential business of government must be carried on".

Nicki called the situation "a mess".

Yesterday Nicki from the Student Loan Support Group Jersey @JsySLSgroup highlighted this incorrect behaviour by Student Finance to the Greffier if the States. Of course the statement that 1/ pic.twitter.com/jg2y9SdIFd

— Deputy Catherine Curtis (@DeputyCCurtis) January 24, 2024

Nicki eventually spoke to both Greffier of the States Lisa Hart, and Deputy Curtis, to clarify the situation – and both said that there was no reason for forms not to be sent out during purdah.

Though there are around 500 new students every year - and a total of 1,500 students from Jersey - Nicki said she didn't know how many were affected.

She added that perhaps the civil service needed better briefing on "what they can and can't do".

She added: "Civil servants have got people emailing them with queries. It's just wasting their time, it's wasting my time, it's wasting the Greffier's time."

Deputy Curtis added on Twitter: “Student Finance falls into Purdah territory, which means a lot of work must be paused until this period is over” is wrong. During this period ministers retain executive responsibilities, and the essential business of government must be carried on."

Express has contacted the government for a response.