Government to extend loan scheme to technical and science teachers
Higher Education Student’s Financing Board official Moses Barisigara (L) with Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies programme coordinator Doreen Tesha at a meeting in Kampala yesterday. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA
What you need to know:
African initiative. Education minister Jessica Alupo also calls for increased enrolment in Africa higher education.
Kampala- Government has said it will extend the student loan scheme to institutions offering diploma courses in nursing, technical and sciences to increase accessibility to higher education.
Education minister Jessica Alupo said the move will allow students from poor families benefit by being equipped with the relevant skills.
Speaking at the annual general meeting for the Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA) in Kampala yesterday, Ms Alupo also challenged member states to increase the current Africa Higher Education enrolment from 4 per cent to 40 per cent.
“My challenge to you as an association is to push the gross enrolment ratio of Africa currently at 4 per cent to 40 per cent. This is possible, manageable and can be achieved through partnership and having a common vision,” she said.
The Uganda Higher Education Student Financing Board was launched this year and at least 1,000 science students joining universities in August were given loans to continue their studies in various institutions.
Mr Lerotholi Pheko, the Principal Secretary Ministry of Development Planning in Lesotho, told participants that although their financing board has been there for two decades, the country is still struggling to sustain it due to economic instability. “We are going through political difficulties. We are struggling with sustainability of the loans. We are not able to sponsor as many students. We also don’t have enough universities and are using those in South Africa which are expensive yet Lesotho economy is not good,” Mr Pheko said.
Mr Charles Ringera, the association chairperson, said they hope to learn best practices from other countries running the financial scheme and appealed to African governments to increase funding to Higher Education by 20 per cent of their national budgets.
