The Higher Education Student’s Loans and Grants Board- HESLGB has said that it has secured funds for the provision of loans to over one thousand open and distance e-learning needy students.
According to Millie Kasunda, Communications Manager for the Board, about 7 billion Kwacha has been secured from the World Bank through the Skills for Vibrant Economy project.
“The focus priority areas for the SAVE project include Education, Health, Agriculture, Energy, Information Communications Technology (ICT) & Industry,” said Kasunda
Kasunda has told MIJ Online that the loans will be given to first year students with a 60 percent female and 40 percent male target.
“Further, the loans will be disbursed to 60 percent female and 40 percent male needy students. With the funding, HESLGB will provide loans to 1,150 first year needy students. Out of it, 690 loans will be provided to first year needy students studying degree programs on ODeL while 460 loans will be provided to needy students studying face-to-face generic degree programs,” Kasunda explained.
Meanwhile, Kasunda has told us that the project is expected to run for five years and calls for applications start on April, 1st to 30th, May 2023.