STUDENTS CRY OUT LOUD OVER LOANS BOARD BUDGET CUT

By Kenson McCloud 

Tertiary students are not happy with the cut in funding to the loans’ board, a situation that could leave many needy students out in the cold. 

According to the 2021/2021 proposed national budget, the Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board has been allocated K9.1 Billion, which is K33 Million short from the last budgetary support. 

In an interview with Timveni, University of Malawi Student Union President, Godfrey Phunyanya, said, "It is unfortunate the loans board’s stake in the national budget keeps on being trimmed despite high demand for loans." 

Phunyanya said he had high expectations that with the education sector receiving the lion’s share, the loans board could also be fully funded. 

"its the same issue every year," said Phunyanya.

He appealed to authorities to reconsider increasing the allocation towards the loans’ board to reach out to more deserving students than the targeted Twenty Thousand students.

However, the loans’ board has attributed non-compliance to repay the loans as major stumbling block.