Introduction

The Government of Malawi recognizes that the provision of accessible and quality higher education is a necessity to the socio-economic development of this country. However, through numerous research studies, planning and reflection conferences; it was noted that the higher education sector faces a lot of challenges. These challenges include; lack of a coordinated higher education policy and legal framework, lack of an elaborate and sustainable higher education financing mechanism and lack of robust quality assurance, control and monitoring systems. These, among many others, affected the accessibility and quality of the higher education in Malawi.

In its efforts to improve accessibility and quality of higher education in Malawi, Government through the National Assembly established the Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board (HESLGB) and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). The gist of our entry this week is to highlight the separate and complementary roles of these two independent bodies which are often times confused or ignored by a lot of stakeholders. In doing this, we seek to clearly provide knowledge and information to various stakeholders who need services from either HESLGB or NCHE so that they are properly directed and guided.

Roles of HESLGB

HESLGB was put in place by the Higher Education Students’ Loans Act Number 2 of 2015, with a duo mandate; to facilitate provision of loans and grants to needy students who are pursuing higher education; and to facilitate recovery of all mature loans from former beneficiaries of students’ loan scheme that was introduced in 1985. According to the Act, HESLGB has the functions and powers to; control and manage the Fund, receive and consider applications for student grants and student loans from students, determine the maximum number of eligible students to be granted student grants and student loans in anyone particular year,  notwithstanding the limitations Act, recover outstanding loans that were granted to students under students’ loan scheme; and also ensure the overall efficient and effective implementation of all the provisions of the HESLGB Act.

Roles of NCHE

NCHE IS A REGULATORY BODY in the higher education sector, and responsible for registration, accreditation of higher education institutions and programs, harmonises the selection of students to public higher learning institutions; provides monitoring, compliance, standard measures and quality assurance mechanisms for the effective and efficient delivery of higher education in Malawi. Specifically, NCHE Act empowers NCHE to; promote and coordinate education provided by higher education institutions; register and de-register higher education institutions; harmonise selection of students to all public universities; regulate, determine and maintain standards of teaching, examinations, academic qualifications, academic facilities; develop a national qualifications framework which is compatible with regional and international standards; determine minimum criteria and procedures for registration and de-registration of higher education institutions; and accredit both public and private higher education institutions.

Key points to note

HESLGB is an agent of government providing students’ loans whilst NCHE is a regulatory body of the Higher education sector. These are established by separate acts of parliament, have different mandates and roles. But they complement each other in ensuring that needy and deserving students pursuing higher education in NCHE accredited universities access loans to finance their education through loans provided by HESLGB.

Call to Action

If you want to know about students’ loans, when to apply for students’ loans, when loan application results are out annually, who is eligible for students’ loans and who is not. If you are a former loan beneficiary and you want to know your loan status and how to pay back or you would like to know modes of loan repayment; you may contact the Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board (HESLGB) in Lilongwe, Area 10 off Mphonongo street.

If you want to know about the accredited higher learning institutions, accredited programs of study; if you would like to apply for selection into public universities, then contact the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in Area 47 at Chitukuko next to Petroda filling station in Lilongwe.

Please provide this information to as many people as you can by circulating this article so that many prospective university students should have correct information as to where to apply for public university space and where to apply for loans. As they say “knowledge is power”, therefore only correct knowledge is enabling and empowering.

Remember to enquire about your students’ loan status from HESLGB. Remember to learn more about students’ loans from HESLGB, it is the only enabling institution for needy and deserving students to seek finances in various loan products to access higher education in Malawi.