daughter's hopes of continuing in school.

She says her daughter applied for a Government scholarship to carry on studying in the US because her parents could no longer afford the fees.

But it wasn't until yesterday that she learned she had the award -- too late to start the new semester.

Now the 22-year-old Pembroke student is planning a bitter complaint to the Education Ministry.

Her mother, who did not want the family named, said her daughter studied graphic design at a New York State college from January to May, funded by her father.

"She applied for an award for the next semester because my ex-husband can't afford it and I can't afford it either.'' Despite Ministry assurances that a letter was on its way it did not arrive, the mother said.

After an anxious wait it finally arrived yesterday.

"My daughter's upset about it. She can't go back to school because it's too late. There's nothing we can do about it now.

"She had to be up there last week Monday, but the letter she received was dated the same day she was supposed to be in school.'' The scholarship was for $5,000, the mother said. "It was an award which she would not have had to repay to Government.

"It was good news but it's useless because now she has to give up the scholarship. If we had known in time we might have been able to make up the difference in the money.'' Her daughter, who wanted to be a graphic designer, had now taken an office job in Bermuda.

"She had to make that decision because she has no other choice. I'm just getting tired of the procrastination. What is happening in Government? "Something should be done. These things should be all done a hell of a lot sooner.

"Why do they wait until the last minute to give it to us? "I'm getting fed up with the way Government handles students who can't afford school. How many other people does this happen to?'' Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira was unavailable for comment last night.