Although the programme is being poorly implemented, paradoxically opportunities are equal throughout Dolnośląskie Voivodeship, because no one has received any money this year yet. The counties that accepted and verified scholarship applications claim that the Marshal’s Office is responsible for everything, as the applications are sent there. Meanwhile, the Office shifts the blame back to the counties. According to the Marshal’s Office, the county offices prepared the applications too late and, secondly, with errors. They need to be corrected, hence the delays. Scholarship payments were also delayed by changes introduced by the ministry in the meantime.

One thing is certain – pupils and students are still waiting for the money. Everything indicates that they will have to wait at least another month. The Marshal’s Office estimates that mid-May is a “cautious” deadline.

The scholarships were supposed to be paid monthly from September or October through June. For now, the time for submitting applications for next year is approaching. In Bolesławiec County, 49 students and nearly 450 pupils from upper-secondary schools are waiting for scholarships.

Readers’ opinions

As a County, we can only comply with rules that are changed during the game. Are we comfortable with that? Are we happy that we have to do one thing several times? No. Especially since some media suggest that the counties are to blame. All of them, because none has received the money... What is sad and outrageous, however, is that the scholarship recipients are not receiving their money. I have spoken to many embittered parents who have to borrow money to spend it on their children and, consequently, receive reimbursement for the costs incurred – that is, the scholarships. But what can one do? All the same, it is better to receive them later than... not at all. That was usually the conclusion we reached. And finally: the money – for the first three months of this year – is supposedly (with emphasis on supposedly!) to arrive in May. I should also mention that we have already prepared an application for funds for scholarships for the next school year! Because I believe that, despite everything, it is worthwhile...

Dariusz, EKS Department of the County Office, Bolesławiec