After reading The Sunday Gleaner, dated May 17, I was rather dismayed at the fact that over $760 million is owed to the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB). This is largely because most of the delinquents as noted are either from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology. As a past student of the former institution and also a recipient of an SLB loan, I felt urged to add my 'two cents'.

While it is true that a number of university graduates who borrowed loans are negligent in their repayment, there are those of us who are simply unable to repay same. The SLB gives us a grace period of six months after which we are required to start repaying the loans. While in some cases this is ample time to find a suitable job, there are those who have not been able to locate a job even after a year. What then? Ask the guarantors to repay or simply write-off such students as mere delinquents and proceed to publish their names in the media?

Blanket approach

The individual who suggests a blanket approach where all non-payers should be deemed delinquents, clearly did not use a loan from the SLB to finance his or her tertiary education. I implore you to remove the blindfold so you can see the reality which exists right before your eyes. It is not that all students refuse to repay, some are simply unable to.

I strongly suggest that the SLB takes a more collective approach where efforts are made to work in tandem with tertiary institutions to ensure students can locate jobs with a reasonable time fame to start repaying loans, while, of course, encouraging others to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours. Also, the SLB needs to be more lenient where payment plans may be worked out between themselves and students. Mandating a specific amount on a monthly basis is backward and unrealistic because some of us just do not have jobs which will allow for this.

This is a time when we all have to work together to realise our dreams. Help me to help you. Be reasonable and then maybe, just maybe, it may just work.

I am, etc.,

SHAUNA-KAYE BROWN

Lauriston

St Catherine