16/06/2025
Open Letter to HELSB
๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐-๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
To: Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board - Zambia
As student advocates, we are compelled to scrutinize the recent changes in the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB) student loan disbursement scale at Mulungushi University which aims at reducing the number of beneficiaries by 50%
While we appreciate efforts to support students, the new scale raises concerns about accessibility and fairness in the distribution
The New Scale takes us a Step Backwards
๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ:
- 100% loan coverage for 100 students who can prove vulnerability
- 75% loan coverage for 200 students
- 50% loan coverage for 230 students
- 25% loan coverage for 220 student
Which brings the total number to only 750, indicating almost a 50% Reduction
Last year, HELSB awarded loans to 1,403 students at Mulungushi University, with over 1,300 receiving 100% loan coverage. This year, the new scale drastically reduces the number of students receiving full loan coverage to just on 100 Students.
This shift may exclude many deserving students from accessing higher education...
The Concerns and Implications due the Newly introduced scale are
1. The new scale may limit opportunities for students from low income backgrounds, therefore reducing accessibility and contradicting the government's promise to increase the number of beneficiaries.
2. The allocation of loan slots seems arbitrary, and the criteria for vulnerability need a lot clarification and not just mare say
3. The Reduced loan coverage will lead to increased financial burdens on students, potentially affecting their academic performance.
We therefore request HELSB to revisit the new scale and consider increasing the number of students receiving full loan coverage, they should also provide a Clearly defined criteria for vulnerability and ensure fairness in the selection process.
As student advocates, we believe that education should be accessible to all, regardless of financial backgrounds
We urge HELSB and the government to reconsider the new scale and prioritize increasing the number of beneficiaries and not reducing it.
By doing so, Mulungushi University will remain a beacon of opportunity for students from all walks of life.
๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ ๐
๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ