Majina ya waliopata mkopo 2024/2025 HESLB |Students Who Received HESLB Loans
The 2024/2025 academic year has brought good news for higher education students in Tanzania, as the Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB) has announced the first list of students awarded loans. In this phase, a total of 21,509 students have been granted loans worth TZS 70.78 billion, demonstrating the government’s efforts to support education in the country.
List of Students Awarded Loans
In an announcement made by HESLB Executive Director Dr. Bill Kiwia, all students who applied for loans can access their information through their SIPA (Student’s Individual Permanent Account). This is a crucial step for students, as it allows them to track their progress without needing to visit HESLB offices. Dr. Kiwia emphasized, “Each applicant can find their information in the same account they used to apply for the loan.”
Loans for First-Year Students
This first phase includes first-year students receiving loans for undergraduate degrees, the Law School for Practical Training, and Master’s degrees. The government has allocated a total of TZS 787 billion for 245,799 students this year. Among them, over 88,000 first-year students have been awarded TZS 284.8 billion. This represents an increase of TZS 38 billion, equivalent to 5.1% compared to the previous budget.
Increased Loan Amount
This academic year, the minimum loan amount for a single student has been raised to TZS 3.0 million from TZS 2.7 million last year. This significant step aims to enhance the financial capacity of students and ensure they have the necessary resources for their studies.
Call to Colleges to Ensure Timely Submission of Results
Dr. Kiwia also reminded higher education institutions of their responsibility to ensure that examination results are submitted on time. Colleges that have not submitted their results have been urged to expedite the process to enable HESLB to make timely payments. “We have reminded them, and we emphasize the need to hasten the submission of results so that we can finalize payments for students who have passed,” said Dr. Kiwia.
Second Phase of the List to be Announced Soon
For those who were unable to secure loans in this phase, there is hope, as Dr. Kiwia announced that the second phase will be announced next week. This offers an opportunity for other students who missed out in this first round.
Achievements and Challenges of the Loan System
The loan system in Tanzania has shown significant success in helping many students access quality education. However, several challenges still need to be addressed:
- Limited Understanding: Many students still lack a good understanding of the application process and how to track their progress.
- Delayed Submission of Results: Some colleges have not submitted their results on time, causing delays in payments.
- Insufficient Loan Amounts: Although the loan amounts have increased, there are still concerns about whether these amounts are sufficient to meet all student needs.
Conclusion
The announcement by HESLB regarding the list of students who received loans for the 2024/2025 academic year is a crucial step in ensuring that education is more accessible in Tanzania. Through this financial support, the government demonstrates its commitment to promoting education and helping young people achieve their goals. It is hoped that this process will continue to improve to ensure that every student has equal opportunities to access quality education.
For students who have not yet received their information or those planning to apply for loans in the next phase, it is essential to continue monitoring updates from HESLB through their SIPA accounts to know the next steps.