Some Calgary students are facing severe hardships as they wait for assistance under a provincial program.
And the Liberal opposition claims the funding delay is forcing some students to drop out of school.
"Education is the key to a successful economy and having a twenty per cent increase in the number of student dropping out is certainly far from an Alberta advantage," says Harry Chase, Calgary MLA and Liberal education critic.
The program called Alberta Works helps low-income Albertans cover their basic cost of living while they return to school.
Hollie Smith is a dental business student at Bow Valley College in Calgary. She has a four year old daughter. So far she hasn't received a dime from the program.
"The only thing paid will be daycare, my phone, electricity could be cut off and I could get an eviction notice," Smith says.
The province installed a new computer system a month ago which failed, causing the delays in distributing cheques.
Nearly seven thousand students across the province were initially affected, but now over half of those are receiving funds.
The provincial government insists it's not a money issue. Thomas Lukaszuk is the Alberta Minister of Employment and Immigration.
Lukaszuk says extra staff has been brought in and they are processing the applications seven days a week.
He says more than 500 emergency cheques have been issued to students.
Any students facing hardships are encouraged to call a help line 800-222-6485.
