Dar es Salaam. At least 205,000 students are expected to share a total of 570 billion shillings in loan funds, the Higher Education Student Loans Board (Heslb) announced today at the launch of loan application guidelines for the 2022/23 academic year.
The beneficiaries targeted for this year are an increase from the 177,800 beneficiaries on loan in 2021/22 where the government allocated 570 billion shillings. In 2022/23, the government has allocated 573 billion shillings for tertiary students.
Speaking at the launch of the handbook today, July 12, 2022 in Dar es Salaam, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda said out of the funds, Sh57O are loans and Sh3 billion will be provided as scholarships for top 500 students in science subjects.
“All students who have excelled in science subjects in the results of the Advanced Certificate for Secondary Education (ACSEE) 2022 examination will receive full government scholarships. Qualifications and criteria will soon be announced by the ministry,” he said.
In another step, Kiswahili and translation, which were not included in the group of priority subjects in the allocation of loans for higher education, were given priority.
“Just as students studying science subjects that are priorities for the nation, including physics, chemistry and biology, Kiswahili and translation officially fall into this group and will be given priority when allocating loans,” the official said. Professor Mkenda.
This, he said, is a way to ensure that Tanzania produces more linguists for the language that has continued to gain momentum across the world.
“We need professionals who can help spread Kiswahili around the world because it is the government’s responsibility to develop the language across the world. Now these students also need to be well funded,” he said.
In the manual, between July 12 and 18, 2022 the guide will be officially posted on websites; (www.heslb.go.tz) and (www.moe.go.tz) that applicants should read and understand.
From July 19 to September 30, 2022, the online lending window will be open for 70 days to receive online applications. Also from July 20 to September 30, 2022, the implementation of educational programs for loan seekers is expected to take place at 19 national service camps through various platforms.
