'DISGRACE' Thousands of pupils in voucher chaos.Byline: CLAIRE STOKER Education Reporter THOUSANDS of Liverpool children are today without travel passes and vouchers for free school meal and uniforms. At the start of the school year, the city council has processed only half the 24,000 voucher A receipt or release which provides evidence of payment or other discharge of a debt, often for purposes of reimbursement, or attests to the accuracy of the accounts. applications. Another 4,000 children, two thirds of the applicants, have not received their travel passes. A council spokesman today blamed the delays on late applications by parents plus staff sickness SICKNESS. By sickness is understood any affection of the body which deprives it temporarily of the power to fulfill its usual functions. 2. Sickness is either such as affects the body generally, or only some parts of it. . Parents who have to pay for their children's travel until the passes arrive will be refunded. Cllr Paul Clein, executive member for education, today promised an investigation as the Labour opposition branded the situation a "disgrace DISGRACE. Ignominy, shame, dishonor. No witness is required to disgrace himself. 13 How. St. Tr. 17, 334; 16 How. St. Tr. 161. Vide Crimination; To Degrade. ". Cllr Clein said: "The applications are being processed but we are behind with them. "I am particularly annoyed because this is an issue we have raised with officers before." Cllr Clein said he had been led to believe that matters were in hand and did not find out about the problems until Friday. "When I found out I read the riot act Riot Act the reading it to unruly crowds, sheriffs under George I could force them to disperse or be jailed. [Br. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 767] See : Riot and my assistant and I have been to see a number of senior officers with all the stops being pulled out to get them out as soon as possible." All new applications for free school meals have been processed. Old school meal vouchers are valid until the end of September, by which time the council is confident the situation will be resolved. Liverpool headteachers have been warned of the situation so pupils who are unable to buy the correct uniform to return to school will not be punished pun·ish v. pun·ished, pun·ish·ing, pun·ish·es v.tr. 1. To subject to a penalty for an offense, sin, or fault. 2. To inflict a penalty for (an offense). 3. . The council spokesman added: "We apologise v. 1. same as apologize. Verb 1. apologise - defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" . We are moving heaven and earth to get the process completed as quickly as possible." Cllr Clein said once the backlog Backlog The total value of sales orders waiting to be fulfilled. Notes: This figure is used mainly in the manufacturing industry. Increases or decreases in a company's backlog indicate the future direction of sales and earnings. has been cleared and all the vouchers for the new academic year are sent out, a full investigation will begin. Today Labour education spokesman Joe Anderson
Joe Anderson (born c. 1981) is a British actor. He attented Richmond upon Thames College and later the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. told the ECHO: "This is down to cuts in personnel and savings by the city council. "It affects some of the most deprived families in the city and these kids will be missing school." He said Labour will be demanding an explanation and an undertaking that all the applications will be processed by the end of the week. Are you caught up in the chaos. Ring the ECHO newsdesk on 0151-472 2488. |
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