Increase number of HESLB beneficiaries, CVCPT recommends
THE Committee of Vice Chancellors, Principles and Provosts in Tanzania (CVCPT) has recommended to the government to increase the number of beneficiaries of Higher Education Students’ Loans Board.
The advice was given in Dar es Salaam yesterday by the Chairperson of (CVCPT), Professor Yohana Mashalla, during the opening of the 30th meeting, noting that it was wise for the board to accommodate many students, who are not able to pay for their tuition fees.
He said in recent years, government expanded primary and secondary schools infrastructures and also introduced fee free education-something which created demand for higher learning education.
He said the number of students who complete secondary school level is increasing, so there is a need to do something to accommodate many of them into higher learning institutions.
Professor Mashalla also advised the government to financially assist private universities, so that they can be able to build enough infrastructures to accommodate many students, adding that the situation will help to increase the enrollment and ensure that no one is left behind, when it comes to putsuing education.
On his side, the Vice-Chancellor at St Augustine University (SAUT) Prof Costa Mahalu said private universities face several challenges with majority of students struggling to pay their fees.
He said the number of students who get loans from HESLB is negligible and those who are lucky only receive low percentage-a situation he said affect many private universities, which depend much on fees in their daily operations.
“It became difficulty to run the university because many of our students come from poor families who cannot afford to pay for their children’s tuition fees. If private universities don’t get enough students it becomes hard to run the institutions and sometimes, it becomes difficulty to pay salaries to the staff,” said Professor Mahalu.
He said the committee involves public and private universities and part of the agendas of the discussion during the meeting was to advise the government on how to improve higher learning education to get graduates, who are well prepared to meet the demands of the job market.
Speaking during the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Professor William Anangisye said the goal of any university is to prepare graduates who are able to solve challenges in their communities.
He said that is why the UDSM is revising its curriculum every after five years so that it attains quality curriculum and eventually get graduates who are able to compete in the global market after their studies.
