The Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board says it has recovered K723 million from previous beneficiaries between April and December 2024.
This is commendable, but it should revisit the loans’ eligibility. The board’s policy restricts the loans to needy Malawians admitted to generic degree programmes in accredited institutions of higher learning.
However, how does the board define “needy Malawians”.
Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘needy’ as being poor or not having enough basic necessities.
There are many needy upgrading students in Malawi’s accredited universities, but they are denied educational loans from the State-sponsored board.
For example, countless upgrading students at Mzuzu University as well as Domasi and Nalikule colleges of education are forced to withdraw on financial grounds.
Most of them are primary school teachers who completed their training in various colleges many years ago, but are yet to be recruited.
At a pre-budget consultation meeting held in Mzuzu last year,
Mzuni Vice-Chancellor Professor Wales Singini pleaded for more funding for the board so that it can accept upgrading students as well. He told the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Simplex Chithyola- Banda that numerous upgrading students go to his office crying because they cannot register due to a lack of tuition fees.
At a simi lar meeting this year, I echoed the urgent need to consider the upgrading students.
Not just the unemployed teachers are living a miserable life in universities. Even those who are on the government payroll are struggling.
Despite being granted study leave to pursue education degree programmes, the government does not support primary school teachers with tuition fees and other training expenses. They have to fend for themselves.
Why? Many remember being told by their supervisors that the highest qualification needed for one to teach in primary schools
is the teacher certification from a recognised TTC, not a bachelor’s degree.
Presently, I run an initiative to raise fees and upkeep for some students at Mzuzu University and Domasi College of Education, who were trained as primary school teachers under IPTE-14, 15 and 16.
They completed their teacher training over two years ago and are pursuing various undergraduate programmes.
Unfortunately, they live and learn miserably in universities because they do not qualify for a loan from the board on an assumption that those upgrading are not needy students.
This assumption unfairly excludes deserving students in dire need of financial assistance.
When some teachers get selected to a university by the National Council for Higher Education, they are allowed to apply for those loans because the board cannot know whether the applicant is already a teacher or not.
The current system of verifying poverty through paperwork and photos is flawed. It can be easily manipulated.
No wonder the board has for several times left deserving students, supporting those who can do without educational loans.
Simply put, the upgrading students are victims of their own registration numbers.
Most of them are unemployed and they are struggling to pay their fees and other training expenses.
The assumption that
upgrading students are financially stable is misguided. In reality, many are shouldering immense financial responsibilities and have high dependency levels.
As the nation grapples with financial crisis, these students need a hand up.
The decision to support students learning through Open Distance and e-Learning with funds from the World Bank’s Save project is a step in the right direction. However, such initiatives should be extended to upgrading students struggling to make ends meet.
When teachers upgrade their qualifications, they are better equipped to deliver quality education for national development. The country cannot reduce the illiteracy levels and achieve the Malawi 2063 agenda when some sections of the citizenry are excluded from higher education.
I implore the board to revise its eligibility criteria to include upgrading students who are in financial need. This can be achieved by selecting only students with ample proof that they are needy and capable of repaying the loans upon completion of their studies.
