3rd October 2013
Following the students’ demonstration against being
left out of the loan scheme, the government has directed the Higher
Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB) to deal with the issue, but
HESLB has made it clear that it has run out of funds to sponsor anymore
students even if they qualify.
Speaking to the Guardian yesterday in Dar es Salaam, HESLB Director of Information, Education and Communication, Cosmas Mwaisobwa said the loan board has closed its doors and that no more sponsorships will be offered because it has exhausted its budget.
Students have been advised to reapply in the next academic year but no mention of appeal was said despite the Ministry advice for the same.
“We have closed all the doors…the amount we were given for them is exhausted… we are very sorry for those who missed it,” Mwaisobwa empathized.
He went on to defend their processing of applications which the students argue was unfair, saying they were very keen and sure that no mistakes were made and all who deserve the loans were approved. He however did not expound on the controversy.
On one hand they ran out of funds but on the other they gave all qualified students their loans raising the question as to whether qualified students were left out due to lack of funds or even though they are out of funds they already approved all qualified students and the left out are those who did not meet set criteria.
Because the Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa was not available to address the students when they marched to his offices yesterday, Head of Information Department Ntambi Banyunzu took up the matter and told the students to consult HESLB.
“HESLB will settle your complaints, and direct you on appealing for those who missed the loan if they think they qualify,” he told them.
On their side, the students complained that they qualified for the loans but were left out in favour of other students who did not even need the loans. As an example, they spoke of financially able students in private schools that charge high fees but who surprisingly qualified for the loans.
“I think most of us here deserve to get the loan…” said a student identified by the single name of John adding that “… if HESLB has run out of money it is better it declares it publicly instead of saying that we are not qualified for the loan,’’
HESLB has answered that appeal affirmatively by publicly admitting that indeed they are out of funds but did not clarify whether due to the shortage of funds it has left out students who qualified for the loan or even though they ran out of funds but they actually accommodated all qualified students and that those who were left out simply did not qualify.
Responding on the rich undeserving students, HESLB Director of Information, Education and Communication, Mwaisobwa, said some of them are orphans studying in those expensive schools through sponsorship religious and other organisations/individuals.
“…some of the students in those private schools come from very poor families and others are orphans but they are there under sponsorship so we too cannot neglect them, they qualify for the,’’ he said.
According to him, of 31,647 students who applied for loans, a total 29,754 students were approved.
Speaking to the Guardian yesterday in Dar es Salaam, HESLB Director of Information, Education and Communication, Cosmas Mwaisobwa said the loan board has closed its doors and that no more sponsorships will be offered because it has exhausted its budget.
Students have been advised to reapply in the next academic year but no mention of appeal was said despite the Ministry advice for the same.
“We have closed all the doors…the amount we were given for them is exhausted… we are very sorry for those who missed it,” Mwaisobwa empathized.
He went on to defend their processing of applications which the students argue was unfair, saying they were very keen and sure that no mistakes were made and all who deserve the loans were approved. He however did not expound on the controversy.
On one hand they ran out of funds but on the other they gave all qualified students their loans raising the question as to whether qualified students were left out due to lack of funds or even though they are out of funds they already approved all qualified students and the left out are those who did not meet set criteria.
Because the Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa was not available to address the students when they marched to his offices yesterday, Head of Information Department Ntambi Banyunzu took up the matter and told the students to consult HESLB.
“HESLB will settle your complaints, and direct you on appealing for those who missed the loan if they think they qualify,” he told them.
On their side, the students complained that they qualified for the loans but were left out in favour of other students who did not even need the loans. As an example, they spoke of financially able students in private schools that charge high fees but who surprisingly qualified for the loans.
“I think most of us here deserve to get the loan…” said a student identified by the single name of John adding that “… if HESLB has run out of money it is better it declares it publicly instead of saying that we are not qualified for the loan,’’
HESLB has answered that appeal affirmatively by publicly admitting that indeed they are out of funds but did not clarify whether due to the shortage of funds it has left out students who qualified for the loan or even though they ran out of funds but they actually accommodated all qualified students and that those who were left out simply did not qualify.
Responding on the rich undeserving students, HESLB Director of Information, Education and Communication, Mwaisobwa, said some of them are orphans studying in those expensive schools through sponsorship religious and other organisations/individuals.
“…some of the students in those private schools come from very poor families and others are orphans but they are there under sponsorship so we too cannot neglect them, they qualify for the,’’ he said.
According to him, of 31,647 students who applied for loans, a total 29,754 students were approved.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
