Professor 1

Open Letter to HELSB

𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐒𝐁 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞-𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲
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

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬:

- 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.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝟏
𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲

🚧🚨
𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐒𝐁 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 - 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩-𝐛𝐲-𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩

𝟏. 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐔𝐩 (𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐭)
* Visit: https://portal.helsb.gov.zm
* Click "Sign Up" to create an account..
* Provide your valid NRC, email address and phone number (A pin will be sent to your email address/phone number so make sure it is yours and it is functional).
* Select New Student card
* View the terms and conditions and "accept" the terms and conditions then click "Submit"

𝟐. 𝐔𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
* After account creation, you'll be prompted to upload a passport-sized photo
*[Format: PNG or JPEG]
*[Maximum Size: 8MB]
* Click "Next" to proceed.

𝟑. 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐈𝐧
* Use your newly created credentials to log in to the student dashboard.
* Enter your USERNAME: NRC, Email or phone number, then PIN: Secret pin

𝟒. 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥
* Navigate to the Registration section.
* Click verify phone number and verify using the One-Time Password (OTP) sent to you.
* Click verify email and verify using the One-Time Password (OTP) sent to you.

𝟓. 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
_Including but not limited to the following:_
* Full Name (First, Other, Surname)
* NRC
* Date of Birth
* Gender
* Contact Details (Phone, Email)
* Nationality
* District of Residence
* Physical Address
* Disability status (if applicable)

𝟔. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 / 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
_Including but not limited to the following:_
* Full Name
* NRC
* Relationship to applicant
* Gender
* Occupation
* Phone Number
* Address
* Nationality
* District of Residence
..... Rest of the update in the comment section

You parents after hearing that wadya 21 point. sindiwe wenze yenda out Naba nzako ati u where studying?

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬,
As you apply for admission and await the advertisement for Student Loans in May, it's crucial to take note that every step you take now, from applications for admission to applications for student loans, has a significant impact on the outcome of whether you'll be selected or not.

To increase your chances of securing a student loan, it's essential to understand the criteria used by HELSB to award loans. While these criteria may vary slightly from year to year, the core principles remain the same. Here are some of the key criteria to consider:

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭
https://chat.whatsapp.com/LsKntEy5wUJLdVYAPB3DSM
𝟏. 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝: HELSB prioritizes applicants with higher academic achievements, giving them a competitive edge in the loan application process. However, the chances of being selected also depend on the program you apply for. Certain programs, especially science-based ones like Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Engineering, and others, are highly competitive. This means that even with high grades, the competition for limited spots in these programs can be fierce.

𝟐. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: HELSB aims to promote gender equality in education by giving priority to female applicants, who are often underrepresented in certain fields. This ensures that women have equal opportunities to access higher education and pursue their chosen careers.

𝟑. 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: HELSB considers applicants living with disabilities, providing them with equal opportunities to access higher education. This criterion promotes inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that students with disabilities are not disadvantaged in the loan application process.

𝟒. 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: The government prioritizes promoting rural education, and HELSB gives preference to applicants from rural areas. This means that students from rural areas like Mbala, Limulunga or Mwinilunga may be selected over those from urban areas like Lusaka, even if they have slightly lower grades. In reality, the selection process isn't solely based on academic points; that's why someone with 7 points from Lusaka can be left out over someone with 10 points from Mansa in the same program. Various criteria are considered, providing equal opportunities for all applicants. So, let's dispel the myth that only top-performing students are selected. Good results give an advantage, but it also depends on where you applied from and what program you applied for.

I hope you find this information helpful.

𝑃𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑖??𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑠, 𝑛𝑜𝑡 ??𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑠ℎ𝑖 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦

~𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝟏
𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘
𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧👇
https://chat.whatsapp.com/LsKntEy5wUJLdVYAPB3DSM