Malawi government introduces screening in students’ loans
The Ministry of Education Science and Technology says all arrears incurred by University of Malawi graduates through the then state-owned Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) and public universities will now be recovered through the Student Loans Board.
The Ministry could not mention how much the students currently owe government, but hinted that all students who owe government will be followed.
“For all former University of Malawi students, the Ministry of Education through the Student Loans Board (the Higher Education Grants and Loans Board) will use the Student Loans Act to track down all beneficiaries in the process of recovery the money,” said the Ministry of Education spokesperson, Manfred Ndovie in an interview on Monday.
Ndovie said government will be using the same system in recovering the loan that will be disbursed to students pursuing their studies in accredited private universities in the country.
He said beginning this September, the Ministry through the board will start disbursing the education loans to deserving needy students that will qualify a mini-test for the loans.
“The test will be used to determine the eligibility of the student to get the loan. The test will be conducted once per year during the first year and once the students qualify the whole programme will continue to be sponsored by the loan board,” Ndovie said.
He said the test has been designed in a way that applicants will be filling all their details and the sheet will automatically give out scores and those results will determine how much money the student should be given.
Scores of Malawian university students have benefited from the government loan scheme but a dismal percentage of them have come forth to repay.
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