d 6 Comments
Tanzania HESLB Guidelines, Criteria for issuance
of Student Loans and Grants for 2012/2013
Academic Year (Interest rate = 6% per year)
GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR ISSUANCE OF
STUDENT LOANS AND GRANTS FOR 2012/2013
ACADEMIC YEAR
1.0. BACKGROUND
As part of implementation of the National
Higher Education Policy of 1999, the Higher
Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB) was
established under Act No. 9 of 2004 and
commenced operations in July, 2005. Among
other things, the Board has been entrusted by
the Government with the responsibility to issue
loans to students pursuing Advanced/ Higher
Diplomas and degree studies at accredited
higher education institutions in and outside the
country and to collect repayment for all loans
issued to students since 1994, so as to make
the scheme successful and sustainable.
According to the Act, eligible and
needy Tanzanian students who secure
admission in higher education institutions to
pursue academic programmes that lead to
attainment of Advanced/Higher Diplomas or
Degrees may seek loans from HESLB to
meet part of, or all costs of their
education. This stipulation is the legal
interpretation of paragraph 6.2 of Higher
Education Policy (1999) which ushered in cost –
sharing in the provision of higher education in
the country. Cost – sharing in higher education
is construed to mean a shift in shouldering at
least part of the costs of education from the
Government, which had hitherto been the main
financier, to the beneficiaries.
Section 6 (b) of the Act gives powers to the
Board "to formulate mechanisms for
determining eligible students for issuance of
Loans. Section 6 (c) empowers the Board "to
administer and supervise the whole process of
issuance and repayment of loans". On the basis
of budget limitation, Section 7 (1) empowers the
Board to determine maximum number of
eligible students to be given loans in any
particular year; while section 7 (h) empowers
the Board to determine other criteria and
conditions governing the issuance of loans,
including rate of interest and recovery of loans.
On the strength of these legal powers, these
Guidelines and Criteria are hereby issued to
prospective loan applicants and the public at
large to guide the whole process of application
and issuance of loans for 2012/2013 academic
year.
PART A: ISSUANCE OF STUDENTS' LOANS2.0
PROVISION OF LOANS UNDER THE ACTProvision
of students' loans falls under section 16 and 17
of the Act No. 9 of 2004. Section 16 (1) of the
Act provides that:-
2.1 Subject to the provisions of the Act, the
Board may provide, on a loan basis, financial
assistance to any eligible student who is in
need of the loans and who has applied for
such assistance as is required to meet all or
any number of the students' welfare costs of
Higher Education.
The Phrase "Financial Assistance" implies that
parents or guardians have the primary
obligation of meeting higher education costs of
students.
2.2 For purpose of these
Guidelines, NEEDY applicant means:-
• A poor orphan (who has lost both parents)
• A poor applicant with disability or applicant
whose parents have disability.
• A poor applicant who has lost one parent.
• An applicant from poor marginalized and
disadvantaged groups.
• An applicant from poor family.
2.3 Loans may be issued to cover either
partially or fully the following items;
i. Meals and Accommodation charges
ii. Books and Stationery expenses
iii. Special Faculty Requirement expenses
iv. Field Practical Training expenses
v. Research expenses
vi. Tuition Fees
3.0 ELIGIBILITY FOR LOANS FOR 2012/2013
ACADEMIC YEAR
Eligible students for loans in 2012/2013
academic year must meet the following
conditions (for First Degree or Advanced/ Higher
Diploma students):-
3.1 Must be a Tanzanian (as defined by HESLB
Act No. 9 of 2004, as amended).
3.2 Must have applied for a loan through the
Online Loan Application System (OLAS).
3.3 Must have been admitted into a
fully accredited/registered Higher Learning
Institution as a candidate for a First
Degree or Advanced/ Higher Diploma on full
time basis through Central Admission System
(CAS) or other accepted system.
3.4 Must be a continuing student who has
passed the examinations necessary to enable
him/her to advance to the next year or stage of
study.
3.5 Must be a person who is not fully funded
by other organizations or sources.
3.6 Must either be first time direct applicants
who are form six leavers. These will include
only applicants who completed their Advanced
Secondary Education (form six) between 2010
and 2012.
OR
A first time direct applicants under the
Technical and Vocational Education and
Training (TVET). These include only applicants
who completed their NTA level six (6) between
2010 and 2012 as well as applicants who
completed their Diploma in Teacher Education
between 2010 and 2012 years.
OR
A first time indirect applicants admitted into
Health Sciences, Education (Science) and
Education (Mathematics) programmes
only. These include only applicants who
completed their Advanced Secondary Education
(form six) more than two years ago; NTA level
six (6) more than two years ago and or those
who completed their Diploma in Teacher
Education more than two years ago.
OR
A first time equivalent qualifications
applicants admitted into Health Sciences,
Education (Science) and Education
(Mathematics) programmes only. These
include all applicants who are holders of other
Diplomas recognized by NACTE; Diplomas from
outside Tanzania accredited by NACTE; degree
holders intending to join other degree
programmes and form six leavers who have
attended a one year certificate course which is
recognized by NACTE.
3.7 Given the high demand for student loans
viz a viz a limited budget, priority shall be given
to applicants who will be admitted to pursue
National Priority Programmes which for the
time being shall be the following:-
3.7.1 Education (Science) and Education
(Mathematics).
3.7.2 Health Sciences (Doctor of Medicine,
Dental Surgery,
Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing).
3.7.3 Civil and Irrigation Engineering.
3.7.4 Education Non- Science and Non
Mathematics (through Means Testing)
3.7.5 Engineering (Those recognised by
Engineers Registration Boards, including
Computer Engineering and Architecture)
through Means Testing.
3.7.6 Agricultural Sciences (through Means
Testing)
3.7.7 Animal Sciences (through Means Testing)
3.8 All other candidates admitted into
programmes other than Health Sciences,
Education (Mathematics) and Education
(Sciences) on the basis of indirect or equivalent
entrance to HEI may not be eligible for loans.
3.9 Overseas students under bilateral
agreements between the Government of the
United Republic of Tanzania and other
Governments.
3.10 Students studying at the Open University
of Tanzania for a maximum period of six (6)
years (through Means Testing). Students
admitted at the Open University of Tanzania
will be eligible for only two loanable items
(tuition fee, and Books and Stationery.
3.11 Postgraduate studentsIn order to enhance
adequacy of academic staff in local Higher
Education Institutions, a limited number of
loans will be available to academic staff
pursuing Masters and PhD courses. Loan
applicants for Masters or PhD programmes
must meet the following conditions:-
3.11.1 Must be a Tanzanian
3.11.2 Must have been admitted to a fully
accredited/registered higher education
institution in Tanzania.
3.11.3 A person who is not fully funded by
other organizations or sources.
3.11.4 Must have applied for Loans through the
Online Loan Application System (OLAS).
3.11.5 Must hold a first degree or Advanced/
Higher Diploma with a minimum of Upper
Second Class (for applicants pursuing Masters
Degrees) or Master's Degree with minimum of
Upper Second Class (for applicants pursuing
PhD degrees).
3.11.6 Must be an academic staff at a fully
accredited/registered higher learning institution
in Tanzania
3.11.7 Must have been officially nominated by
the employer and obtained endorsement by the
Deputy Vice Chancellors/Principal/Provosts/
Rectors for Academics Research and consultancy
or Deputy Vice Chancellors/Principal/Provosts/
Rectors for Finance and Administration, of the
respective institution.
3.11.8 The employer must have signed the
Financing Agreement between the Higher
Education Students' Loans Board and Higher
Education Institution.
3.11.9 She/he must have started to repay
previous loan instalments at least for unbroken
period of twelve months, or a lump sum of the
same instalments if he/she is already a student
loans beneficiary.
4.0 MEANS TESTING, LOAN ITEMS AND
AMOUNT/RATE TO BE FINANCEDAccording to
the Act, the Board may provide loans to cover
either all items or any of the items stipulated
under section 2.3 above.
4.1 Means Testing SystemThe Board has since
2011/2012 academic year reviewed the Means
testing system to make it Simple, Transparent
and Fair.
The Means Testing System considers School
Fees paid in O – level, A – Level Secondary
Schools or Ordinary Diploma as indication of
applicant's ability to contribute to the costs of
higher education.
Thus, Applicant's neediness shall be measured
as a difference between the higher education
costs (Meals and Accommodation charges,
Books and Stationery expenses, Special Faculty
Requirement expenses, Field Practical
expenses, Research expenses and Tuition Fees)
of a particular institution of study and the
applicant's ability to pay for his/her own
education; multiplied by a factor to
acknowledge the high return of Higher
Education to the applicant. The factor ranges
from 1.1 to 1.5 depending on the magnitude of
Tuition Fees paid at O-Level and A-Level
Secondary/Ordinary diploma Education. The
higher the magnitude, the higher the factor.
In addition, the system shall make adjustments
to cover for Loan applicants with special socio-
economic disadvantages such as Orphanage,
Disability (of Parents/applicants) and Single
parency.
Under the new Means Testing System, the
whole loan shall be aggregated to one lump
sum amount. Out of that, the Tuition Fee and
Special Faculty Requirement components shall
be paid directly to the Institution of study,
whereas the remaining amount shall be paid to
the student quarterly.
The Means Test shall be applicable to first time
applicants on Tuition fee and Special Faculty
Requirements loan items only. The other four
loan items meals and Accommodation, Books
and Stationery, Field Practical Training and
Research may be allocated one hundred (100)
per cent loans.
4.2 Coverage of the Means Testing SystemThe
new means test system shall be applicable to
the first time loan applicants in the 2012/2013
academic year and subsequent years who will
be admitted to pursue all programmes that will
not be eligible for 100% loans.
4.3 Number of Students to be Granted LoansIn
view of limited loanable funds budget, and
pursuant to section 7 paragraph (1) of Act No 9
of 2004 (as amended), the Board in 2012/2013
academic year shall issue loans to a limited
number of applicants as per allocated budget.
In view of limited loanable funds budget,
candidates who are able to meet costs for
higher education, are strongly advised not to
apply for loans from the Board.
4.4 Award of One Hundred Per-cent (100%)
LoansTo motivate candidates to join professions
which currently have critical shortages, the
following programmes shall be awarded up to
one hundred (100%) per cent loans:-
4.4.1 Health Sciences as defined in section 3.7.2
above.
4.4.2 Bachelor of Education with Science,
Bachelor of Science with Education and
Bachelor of Education (Mathematics).
4.4.3 Irrigation Engineering.
4.5 Candidates admitted into Education Non-
Science and Non Mathematics Education
Programmes.Candidates admitted into
education programmes which are non- science
and non mathematics education programme
shall be eligible for Means Tested loans of not
less than fifty (50%) per cent.
4.6 Applicable Tuition Fee RatesTuition Fee
for first time applicants approved for loans in
2012/2013 academic year as well as second
year loan beneficiaries shall be pegged to the
equivalent tuition fees paid in Public Higher
Education Institutions.
4.7 Continuing students who are loan
beneficiariesAll other continuing students loan
beneficiaries shall continue to receive their
loans as per their previous Means Test grades.
4.8 Tuition FeeThe Board may provide tuition
fee loans of between 0% and 100% based on
the comparable rates charged by public
institution and also depending on the types of
the programme offered by the comparable
Public institutions .
The ceiling of Tzs 2.6 million that was set on
medical related programmes over the past four
academic years shall continue to be in force
during 2012/2013. Also, given increased
demand for loans, and limited budget available,
HESLB shall, unless directed otherwise by the
Government, continue to issue Tuition Fees
loans based on the rates that prevailed in
previous year, (2012/2013) academic year
for both new and continuing students, for all
programmes of study.
Tuition fee funds shall be paid directly to the
higher learning institutions but the student
borrower shall have to acknowledge receipt of
the funds by signing on a copy of the payment
list issued by the Board. It will be the
responsibility of the Higher Education
Institutions to obtain the signatures of the
students on the Tuition Payment lists and
submit the same to the Board within sixty (60)
days after receipt of the funds.
4.9 Field Practical/Teaching Practical Work
expenses
The Board may provide Field Practical Training/
Teaching Practical (FPT) loans at the rate of
Tzs10,000 per day up to a maximum of 56
days in a year. FPT loans shall not be subjected
to Means Testing.
However, 3rd, 4th and 5th year continuing loan
beneficiaries shall continue to receive their
Field Practical/Teaching Practice loans as per
their previous year means test grades.
The Board may provide such loans for
those programmes that require Field
Practical Training (FPT) as recommended by
the respective Higher Education Institutions and
approved by the Tanzania Commission for
Universities (TCU) and the National Council for
Technical Education (NACTE).
4.10 Special Faculty RequirementsSubject to
Means Testing results, the Board may provide
Special Faculty Requirement (SFR) loans
of between 0% and 100% but only for study
programmes that require special faculty
requirement items and only for specified items
as approved by TCU/NACTE based on the rates
comparable to public institutions.
Funds for special faculty requirements shall be
paid directly to the Higher Learning Institutions
but respective student borrowers shall have to
acknowledge receipt of the funds by signing on
a copy of the payment list issued by the Board.
Within the amount allocated for Special Faculty
Requirements, eligible and needy students with
disability may be provided with loans to cover
special academic material requirements as may
be determined by the Board.
4.11 Meals and AccommodationThe Board may
provide loans for Meals and Accommodation at
the rate of Tzs 7,500 per day while on campus
for theoretical instructions in the academic
year.
4.12 Books and Stationery expensesA maximum
of Tzs 200,000.00 per annum for Books and
Stationery may be granted to eligible and needy
students. However, loan beneficiaries from
Open University of Tanzania (OUT) may be
granted books and stationery loans for 3 to 4
academic years only (depending on the
programme of study) and not every year.
4.13 Research expensesThe Board may provide
loans of 100% for Research expenses in
selected fields only, based on the rates
applicable at public institutions and as may be
endorsed by either TCU or NACTE. These fields
include:-
• Health Sciences (which includes Doctor of
Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dental Surgery,
Pharmacy and Nursing)
• Engineering
• Agriculture
• Other eligible undergraduate programmes
may be given loans to a tune of Tzs 100,
000.00 in their final year of study
5.0 OTHER CONDITIONS ON ISSUANCE OF
LOANS5.1 Interest of Loan IssuedFor the
purpose of retaining the value of loans issued
as well as making the loan scheme sustainable,
all loans issued beginning 2011/2012 shall
bear Interest rate equal to 6% (six) percent,
per annum.
5.2 Students with multiple admissionsThe Board
shall not disburse loan to any eligible candidate
admitted into more than one Higher Education
Institution. Loan applicants and Higher
Education Institutions are hereby advised to
ensure that a candidate is admitted into only
one Institution. The Board shall not be
responsible for delayed or non- disbursement
of a loan arising from a problem of multiple
admission.
5.3 Students shifting from one Institution to
other InstitutionTo avoid misdirection of loan
funds for students admitted at one HEl who
later choose to shift to another HEl, the Board
shall not raise a duplicate loan payment to
such students. Instead, loan applicants who
shifted to other HEl will have to wait until the
Board receives back the funds from HEl where
it was initially paid.
The Board may re-direct the loan funds to the
Institution where the student has shifted to
subject to obtaining written confirmation from
TCU/NACTE that, the transfer of institution has
been approved as well as written report that
the candidate has actually reported and
registered at the new HEl.
5.4 List of Candidates admitted into Higher
Education InstitutionsTo ensure compliance and
enforcement of quality issues in higher
education, only candidates in the official
admission lists approved by the TCU or NACTE
for respective institutions shall be considered
for loans. Higher Education Institutions are
advised to strictly submit lists of admitted
students through either TCU or NACTE.
Admission lists submitted directly to the Board
by Higher Education Institutions shall not be
considered.
5.5 Mode of ApplicationThe Board has since
2011/2012 academic year introduced an Online
Loan Application System (OLAS) with the aim of
simplifying and increasing efficiency of the loan
issuance process.
Candidates wishing to apply for loans for the
2012/2013 application cycle are advised to
apply through OLAS; print out the application
form and Loan Agreement, appropriately sign
the same, attach the necessary documentations
and submit to the Board through a EMS or
registered mail to:-
The Executive Director, Higher Education
Students' Loans Board, TIRDO Complex,
Kimweri Road, Msasani, P.O. Box 76068, DAR
ES SALAAM.
Applicants are advised to maintain a copy of
the application form and the receipt of mailing
the application for subsequent tracking purpose
of the application form.
Eligible needy candidates are advised to visit
HESLB website www.heslb.go.tz to farmiliarize
themselves with OLAS before attempting to
apply.
5.6 Loan Application FeesFirst time applicants
must pay non-refundable one-off application
fee of Tzs 30,000.00 through M-Pesa.
5.7 Application DeadlineLoan Application cycle
for 2012/2013 academic year will start on 16th
April, 2012 and come to end on 30th June,
2012. Application lodged beyond this date shall
not be honoured.
5.8 Mode of Disbursement of Approved LoansIn
order to expedite disbursement of approved
loans and minimize the possibility of wastage
arising from disbursing loans from the Board
directly to the students bank accounts, all loans
shall now be paid through Higher Education
Institutions. The Higher Education Institutions
upon being satisfied that the student loan
beneficiary has passed all the necessary
examinations allowing him/her to advance to
the next level of study or has reported and
Registered shall remit to the student bank
account the amount of loan so far received
from the Board.
6.0 PUBLICATION OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATESA
list of Candidates and awarded amounts for
eligible loan applicants shall be posted on the
Board's website www.heslb.go.tz as and when
the process of means testing is completed.
7.0 APPEALS AGAINST AWARDED LOAN
AMOUNTSApplicants who are not satisfied with
the Awarded Loan Amounts may appeal to the
Board as stipulated in the HESLB Regulations of
2008 and as clarified below:-
7.1 All appellants must complete the relevant
Online Appeal Forms, make a printout of the
same and attach thereto the necessary
supporting documents. The Online Loan
Application System is accessible at http://
olas.heslb.go.tz.
7.2 Appeal Fee (Tzs. 5,000 per appeal)All
appeals will attract a non-refundable fee of
Tzs, 5,000 per appeal which should be paid
using M-Pesa and the Transaction ID generated
should be input into the Online System prior to
printing the completed appeal form, otherwise
the appeal will not be considered.
7.3 Routing of Appeals through Loan Officers at
the institutions of studyAppeals must be routed
through the Loan Officers at the respective
Higher Education Institution who will collect all
appeals from his/her respective institution and
submit them under a covering letter to the
Board. The Board will not accept any appeal
that will be submitted directly by students to
the Board.
PART B: ISSUANCE OF GRANTS8.0 GRANTS8.1
Grants ItemsGrants may be issued to cover
either partially or fully the following items;
• Tuition Fees
• Books and Stationery expenses
• Special Faculty Requirement expenses
• Field Practical Training expenses
• Research expenses
8.2 Eligibility CriteriaIssuance of grants to
Higher Education Students shall be governed by
the following conditions and procedures:
8.2.1 A limited number of grants shall be issues
to direct students admitted into fully accredited
HEls in Tanzania to pursue MD, DDS or BVM.
8.2.2 Must have obtained outstanding academic
performance of Division I or II at Advanced
Level Secondary Education or a first class for
Assistant Medical Officers.
8.2.3 Must have registered for studies with the
HEls.
8.3 Signing of BondStudents awarded Grants
shall be required to sign a Bond with the
Board, where the student upon graduation shall
work within Tanzania for a period of not less
than five (5) years.
8.3 A separate advertisement calling for
applications for grants shall be floated in the
news media in July, 2012.
Issued by:-
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS' LOANS BOARD
source: www.heslb.go.tz
