The Ministry of Education and Sports has released the list of this year’s beneficiaries of the students loan scheme.
The State Minister for Higher Education, Dr.John Chrysostom Muyingo said on the latest list has 1196 beneficiaries to bring it to 14,601 beneficiaries since its start.
“ These learners were selected from 1,921 applicants who applied this academic year and were finding difficulties in raising costs for their education. There is a very high chance that many of these students would have missed out on higher education if it were not for this strategic government intervention. I would therefore like us to applaud the NRM Government for continuing to innovate and introduce programs that uplift our people and position them to compete and succeed in the academic arena,” Muyingo said.
He said that there is need for more funding to capitalize the Higher Education Students’ Financing Board, noting that the demand for student loans has certainly surpassed the available resources.
“ While initially, applicants averaged at 2000, the demand now outpaces the available resources with an average of more than 4,000 every year. This is a sign that the lower education interventions are working tremendously well.”
Muyingo said his ministry will seek audience with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Parliament to lobby for increased funding for the board so that a target of 3,000 learners’ are supported each year.