Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary Owen Mgemezulu
Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary Owen Mgemezulu, says the Ministry will embark on the process of recovering the bursary money students have been enjoying since the year 2004 once the new loan scheme comes into effect.
He says all University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU) students who have been graduating since the year 2008 on bursary will be required to pay back the money in 2017.
Mr.Mgemezulu says the recovered money is what will be used to fund the new students loan scheme which will be accessible to not only CBU and UNZA students, but all higher learning Institutions in Zambia.
He says the new loan scheme will target the vulnerable in society, with the main criteria for accessing the loan being based on skills the government feels are most needed in society.
Mr Mgemezulu adds that the ministry is in the process of coming up with a credible board that will be in charge of the new education loan scheme to replace government bursaries.
He states that the board will also advise government on which skills or programs to allocate more funds to.