‘Give us space to get established’
Newly-appointed executive director of Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board (HESLGB), CHRIS CHISONI, speaks to our news analyst, ARCHIBALD KASAKURA, on the board’s plans and activities.
Q
What is the status of the board regarding the commencement of operations?
A
The board was put in place through a Parliamentary Act of February 2015 and it has been in operation since August 2015. However, the secretariat for the board is being put in place and I have been hired as an executive director to facilitate the processes that would lead very soon into the establishment of a fully-fledged secretariat for HESLGB. As of now, the Malawi University Development Programme (Mudep) secretariat has been temporarily hosting the operations of HESLGB. We are, therefore, envisaging that within the first two months of 2016, HESLGB will be in full operation with all key secretariat staff positions filled and working.
Q
What mandate has the Ministry of Education Science and Technology on the operations of HELGB?
A
The MOEST is the overall parent ministry responsible for the policy, operational and strategic directions of HESLB. Our board is contributing to the efforts of Malawi government through MOEST in increasing access to tertiary education by supporting needy students in an inclusive manner. Our mandate as a board, therefore, derives from the Malawi Government education plans, vision, leadership and strategic focus as put in place by MOEST. We are answerable to MOEST and directly accountable to the Directorate of Higher Education within MOEST.
Q
Can you describe the board in terms of its operational independence?
A
The HESLGB is independent in as far as its statutory operations are concerned. Its regulating Act is very clear on roles and responsibilities and levels of answerability both vertically and horizontally. However, such independence is only on its operations processes yet the board must subscribe and implement the vision, plans, dreams and strategic directions of the parent ministry, MOEST. In this context, therefore, the board has a balanced notion of independence needed for its effectiveness and timely delivery of its mandated operations.
Q
We understand that MoEST handed over a list of 13 000 defaulters to Credit Data Reference Bureau; how will your body enforce compliance on those defaulters on the list?
A
Currently, we are establishing a secretariat that will include key personnel dealing, for example, with loans and grants disbursement and collection. We ask for patience from Malawians that we should be allowed some space to get established and put systems, procedures and administrative structures in place. Within the first quarter of 2016, we will be in a proper position to make known all our strategies and operational processes to the general public using different engagement processes for a diverse of stakeholders.
Q
Some former beneficiaries of the public universities loan scheme are alleging that they are failing to clear their bills with HELGB so that they can proceed with their lives uninterrupted, what is your readiness as at now?
A
As already alluded to above, the establishment of the HESLGB—and now its secretariat—is an important milestone in the strategic direction of MOEST as it seeks better and institutionalised means of disbursing and collecting loans to and from students. A little patience again here is needed as we, shortly, will be in a position to provide details as to how former benefiting students can access information on the status of their loans and through which means they can repay their loans. This lack of clarity and perceived lack of systems and procedures will be things of the past shortly.
Q
Does the HESLGB have a ready bank account for those who want to remit the funds to use?
A
Yes, the HESLGB has bank accounts for almost all of its operations and soon we will provide this information to the public for those who need to pay back their loans. However, we are putting systems and procedures in place and it’s a matter of time as we need the remitted funds from former students to assist the current increasing numbers of needy university students.
Q
From which year are you going to start the efforts to claim the loans?
A
The Act guiding and regulating our operations allows us to go back to 1985/86 academic year.
Q
What are the board’s plans towards a sustainable and manageable revolving fund for public universities from a background of non-repayment over the past years?
A
We are in the process of putting up an investment and sustainability strategy. This will take care of various opportunities available in generating income for the board. We will also vigorously, as guided by the Act, work towards improving repayment. Much of non-repayment, in our view, was based on the absence of clearly defined and established systems and procedures. Now that the board is in place, Malawians should rest be assured that, those that got loans for their higher education, unless they are dead, will pay back to government and those needy students that have been registered in accredited institutions of higher learning, and upon proper application for loans, the board will tirelessly work towards supporting them. It’s a national duty that every employee of this board will be committed to fulfil. n
