Coalition backs Malawi govt for abolishing university student loan scheme
Executive Director of Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Benedicto Kondowe has backed government for abolishing ‘universal’ university students’ allowances to introduce a loan scheme for deserving students.
Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe announced the change in Parliament during the presentation of the 2015/16 national budget.
Kondowe said it is imperative to abolish the loan programme considering the constrained resource base on which the government is operating, but advised the government to come up with an independent institution to do the loan disbursement in order to avoid abuse and ensure effective loan recovery.
“As education stakeholders we commend government for the move but what is crucial now is how government will recover the disbursement loans because history shows that government’s effort in recovering such loans has always been very poor,” Kondowe said.
“Considering the current national economic challenges it is better that government only comes in to assist the needy students so that those who can afford to pay for their studies should do so on their own,” Kondowe said.
He also advised government to use district councils and ideational leaders in identifying deserving students to benefit from the loans so that it is about abused.
Gondwe announced in Parliament that in the 2015\16 financial year government has set aside a net lending figure of K3 billion to capitalize the Higher Education Students Loan and Grant Scheme.
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Yeah, it is indeed good.Becoz many people who graduated through this Loan many decades of years ago have not repaid the Loans.Which means Government is TOTALLY FAILING TO TRACE & ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.
Ok
Oh! Okhay!