THE Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB) on Sunday opened its appeal window for seven days to allow students challenge their loan allocations for the academic year 2022/2023.
The appeal window involves students left out of this year’s loan allocations as well as those, who are not satisfied with the loans they received.
Such development comes a few days after the government instructed colleges to admit all 28,000 students, who have qualified to secure loans from HESLB as they finalise procedures for issuing the money.
According to a statement released on Sunday by HESLB Director General, Mr Abdul-Razaq Badru, students should file their appeals online along with relevant documents to support their claims from Sunday to November 13th, this year.
“As of today (yesterday), the board had allocated loans to 68,422 first year students…we are aware of students who have failed to complete their applications due to various reasons, including submitting relevant documentation which will guide the allocations as per their needs,” noted Mr Badru.
The HESLB boss indicated that the initiative was aimed to ensure 71,000 new students receive loans in the academic year 2022/2023, further emphasising on adherence to instructions as shown in the system.
Elaborating on loan payments, he revealed that funds have been disbursed to colleges and universities prior to the arrival of students, adding that the exercise was continuous.
Based on this, the DG advised students who have been allocated loans to see loan officers of the respective colleges and universities to finalise procedures of receiving the funds.
“Once a student spots allocation via the board’s Student’s Individual Permanent Account (Sipa), he/she should see a loan officer at his/her college or university to present his/her bank information in order to secure the money,” he noted.
On the other hand, the HESLB boss extended appreciation to higher learning institutions, government and students for according them necessary cooperation which has contributed to the board’s effectiveness in serving its beneficiaries.
He added that “In serving the students the chain goes from the specific student, authorities at higher learning institutions, student organisations bodies and TAHLISO, because they are all important and cooperation is highly valued.”
While adjourning the 9th meeting of the 12th National Assembly last week, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa stated the government’s intention to ensure all the qualified candidates receive their loans accordingly.
“President Samia Suluhu Hassan has approved that all the 28,000 students should report to their universities for admission as the government is finalising the procedures for releasing their loans,” he said.
The Premier indicated that the government was intending to table in the parliament the request for approval of the needed budget that will be dispatched to all students, who have qualified for higher education loan.
The Premier also commended all members of the parliament, who made various contributions aimed at improving performance of the HESLB in terms of the allocations, issuance and recovery of the loan.
The discussion was focused on improving the performance of the board, examining complaints raised with regards to the loan disbursement process, as well as ensuring that all 28,000 qualifying students for the academic year 2022/23 get the loan.
Mr Majaliwa advised Members of Parliament to keep on advising the government on how best it should handle the issue of loans for higher learning students for improved performance, sustainability and productivity of the loans board.
The government decision came following requests by MPs to help students who were unable to join universities after failing to acquire loans from the HESLB.
The Parliament passed a resolution asking the government to ensure that all eligible students were enrolled as other procedures were being worked on.
