REPORT OF THE LOAN AWARDS

Transcription

1 REPORT OF THE LOAN AWARDS BY THE HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS FINANCING BOARD FOR SEMESTER I OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/15. JANUARY, 2015 Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 1 of 19

2 1.0 Background to the Higher Education Students Financing Board Higher Education Students Financing Board (HESFB) was established by an Act of Parliament, No 2 of 2014 as a body corporate- semi-autonomous body mandated to provide Loans and Scholarships to students intending to pursue higher education. The Board was inaugurated on 22 nd April 2014, followed by the launch of the Scheme by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda on 24 th April The Board had its first meeting on 8 th and 9 th May Mandate of the Higher Education Students Financing Board The functions of the Board are: i) To manage the Higher Education Students Financing Scheme ii) To administer the fund. iii) To provide financial assistance to eligible students iv) To establish a loan protection fund for loans granted to students. v) To determine the number of eligible students to benefit from the Scheme. vi) To explore modalities for resource mobilization for the Scheme. vii) To perform any other function that is incidental or connected to the objects of the Board viii) To establish and maintain collaboration and network with other persons, bodies, or organizations within or outside Uganda as the Board may consider appropriate, for the furtherance of the purpose of the scheme 3.0 Board Composition The Higher Education Students Financing Act provides for a Board composition of nine (9) members who were nominated and approved by Cabinet. Two committees were created to assist the Board in its operations namely; a) The Loans and Scholarships Board Committee; b) The Finance and Administration Board Committee. The Board plans to constitute an Audit Committee in the near future. The composition of the Board is as follows: i) One person with at least 10 years experience in management shall be the Chairperson. The current Chairperson is Rev Fr. Prof Callisto Locheng AJ (PhD) ii) A representative of the National Council for Higher Education [NCHE] nominated by National Council for Higher Education. NCHE is represented by Prof. John Opuda Asibo (PhD), the NCHE Executive Director Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 2 of 19

3 iii) A representative of the management of Institutions of Higher Education nominated by the Vice Chancellors Forum. The Vice Chancellors are presented by Prof. Christine Dranzoa (PhD), also the Vice Chancellor of Muni University. iv) A representative of the Ministry responsible for Education in charge of Higher Education. The Ministry of Education & Sports is represented by the Director Higher Technical and Vocation Education Training, Mrs. Elizabeth KM Gabona. v) A representative of the Ministry responsible for Finance. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development is represented by Mr. Willian Ndoleriire, who is also an Assitstant Commissioner Social Services. vi) vii) A representative of employers nominated by a recognized employers umbrella association. The employers are represented by Mrs. Solome Luwaga, the Federation of Uganda Employers Executive Council Member. A representative of Students nominated by a recognized umbrella Students Association. The Students are represented by Mr. Sserwadda Mohammed Ramadhan, the Executive Secretary of Uganda National Students Association. viii) A representative of workers nominated by a recognized workers organization. Mr. Legesi Stephen Muwanika is the Treasurer General of National Organization of Trade Unions represents the Workers Organisations. ix) A representative of Persons with Disabilities nominated by a recognized national umbrella body of persons with disabilities. Persons with Disabilities are represented by Ms. Esther Kyozira, the Secretary of National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda. x) The Executive Director shall be an ex official member of the Board and shall be the Secretary to the Board. Mr. Michael O. Wanyama is the Executive Director and Secretary to the Board. The Board is assisted by the loans and scholarship committee that is responsible for approval of the successful loan beneficiaries. The committee is composed of five members. These are a) Prof Christine Dranzoa the Chairperson of the Committee b) Mrs. Elizabeth K M Gabona Member c) Mr. Sserwadda Mohammed Ramadhan Member d) Mrs. Solome Luwaga Member e) Prof. John Opuda Asibo Member f) Mr. Michael O. Wanyama HESFB Executive Director and Secretary to the Board 4.0 Mission, Vision, Motto and Core Values HESFB s Vision, Mission statement and Core values, largely shape its existence, strategy and growth focus. Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 3 of 19

4 4.1 Vision Statement Access to Higher Education for all Ugandans 4.2 Mission Statement To provide financing to eligible citizens of Ugandan to enable them equitable access to higher education. 4.3 Motto Increasing Access to Higher Education 4.4 Core Values: These values shall be lived by both the Board and staff of HESFB, and they will form the guiding behavior and shall preserve the HESFB organizational culture. The values are: TEAMWORK Great teamwork requires a shared vision and passion. At the core are committed individuals who will offer encouragement and support. But effective teamwork also requires leaders who put the team s interest before their own. INTEGRITY We welcome and believe in people of integrity. We applaud the individual who practices honesty and fairness. Ultimately, each individual s strength of character will ensure that we maintain students services with integrity. TRANSPARENCY We shall encourage openness, maintain effective communication, and accountability so that value for money, and an outstanding service experience for all our stakeholders is achieved. COURTEOUSNESS We shall uphold the highest standards of work ethics while executing our mandate; acting in a polite, respectful and considerate manner. We shall pay special attention to each individual in their capacities and we shall ensure that their interaction with us is memorable. FAIRNESS We shall endevor to be impartial and fight ruthlessly any bias or injustice in our service delivery chain. INNOVATIVENESS Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 4 of 19

5 We shall encourage, explore and reward innovativeness that enhances service delivery. 5.0 Staffing The Board is assisted by a Secretariat which is responsible for the day to day operations of the Scheme. The secretariat is headed by an Executive Director who is assisted by other staff. The total number of staff is 19 as listed here below. All existing staff of the Board have been substantively appointed on contractual terms. Table 1 showing the list of staff Department Number Categories of staff of staff Executive Director 1 ED Loans & Scholarships 4 L&S Manager; 3 Loan Officers Department Information Technology 2 ICT Manager; Data Administrator Legal 1 Legal Manager Administration 8 HR/AO; Secretary; Records Assistant; 3 Drivers. Front Office Officer; Office Assistant Subtotal 16 OTHERS Seconded staff 3 Senior Accountant; Internal Auditor and a Procurement Officer. TOTALS Call for Loan Applications Pursuant to Section 20 of the Higher Education Students Financing Act on Eligibility into the Scheme and Section 21, applications for Loans & Scholarships of the Higher Education Students Financing Act No.2 of 2014, the HESFB Secretariat called for loan applications on 23 rd June The deadline for applications was set as 31 st July 2014, however due to the delays to release lists of the private students by the Public Universities; together with the eventual delays in distributing the admission letters, HESFB extended the deadline for the call for loan applications to 15 th August Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 5 of 19

6 The Loan Application forms were availed to the prospective applicants through the following channels:- i) Eligible applicants could receive forms from the participating Universities Office of the Dean of Students; ii) The Ministry of Education & Sports website iii) The Higher Education Students Financing Board website iv) Any Centenary Bank Branch across the country. v) From the HESFB Secretariat. 7.0 Participating Universities. The following Universities were approved by the Board to participate in the students Loan Scheme: a. Makerere University b. Kyambogo University c. Gulu University d. Busitema University e. Mbarara University of Science & Technology f. Bugema University g. Nkumba University h. Uganda Martyrs University i. Uganda Christian University j. Islamic University in Uganda k. Kampala International University l. Ndejje University 8.0 Number of Applications Received A total of Two thousand one hundred twenty five (2125) applications were received of which, 457 (21.5%) were female while 1668 (78.5%) are male. A total of 5 were persons with disabilities. Pie Chart I showing number of applications received Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 6 of 19

7 Applications were received from 107 Districts of the Country; 5 Districts were not represented as no student from there submitted an application. These are: - Amudat, Bulisa, Buvuma, Ntoroko and Nakapiripirit Districts. 9.0 Disqualified Applications These included students pursuing Diploma Programmes, those admitted for programmes outside the approved ones, students from non-participating Universities among others Successful Loan Applicants Of the remaining 1,703 applications, 1,325 (77.8%) were approved for getting loans, of which 298 (22.5%) were female while 1,027 (77.5%) were male. The 1,325 Successful Loan Applicants The actual loan beneficiaries are 1,201. This is as a result of a total of 2,125 loan applications received of which 1,269 were considered successul. 118 unsucessful students appealed to the Minister in accordance with Section 21 subsection (5) and (6). Of the 118 appeals, 56 were considered in accordance with the Score card and resources which were available to the Board. A total of 1,325 applicants were considered all together for loans during the academic year 2014/15. After the release of Government BTVET Scholarships (Business Technical Vocational Education Training), some students withdrew from the Scheme to benefit from the free Diploma Scholarships. All together 113 students withdrew Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 7 of 19

8 from the Scheme. (see Appendix II). A total of 1,212 students were assumed successful beneficairies. However there after, data was sorted and cleaned, 11 students had their records appearing more than once on the lists of the successful applicants. This left 1,201 as the actual loan beneficiaries for the academic year 2014/15. The details are provided in Appendix I Pie chart II showing of successful applicants by Gender 11.0 Loan Beneficiaries / Signing of loan Agreements This was done immediately after the loan awards. The Officers from the Secretariat visited all the participating Universities and sensitized the students on their roles and responsibilities before signing the agreements. This was followed by coordinating all activities related with Students including Sensitization seminars, Loan Acceptance discussions, Cleanup of lists, Cleanup of files, Coordination with Universities, and all the necessary communications with both Students and the responsible stakeholders at the participating Universities and some parents. However, at the time, not all successful applicants had reported to their respective Universities. Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 8 of 19

9 It should be noted that shortly after the release of the Loan awards, the Ministry of Education and Sports released the lists of Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) scholarships. With two options; of a free Diploma and a Loan for a Degree, some students opted for the Diplomas which together with other reasons created some withdrawals from the Loan Scheme. A total of 113 Students withdrew from the Loan Scheme for a number of reasons as explained here below. A detailed schedule has been attached as Appendix II Table 2 below explains the experienced withdrawals Reasons for withdrawing Students from the Loan Scheme Students admitted on merit Government Scholarships 11 Students who applied and benefited more than twice 6 Continuing Students 4 No Students who could not raise their own funds for meals & accommodation. 18 Student with falsified information 1 Students who benefited from other forms of Scholarships 49 Student who failed to join University due to illnesses 1 Students who opted for other Universities other than the participating Universities 3 Student abandoned programs due to clouded classes 1 Student who could not join because colleagues had covered much at the time they were contacted 1 Students who withdrew for various undisclosed reasons 15 Students whom the Secretariat failed to contact 3 TOTAL Fees payable to the Board by Loan Applicants Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 9 of 19

10 All Loan Applicants paid Ugx 20,000 to the Higher Education Students Financing Board account at Centenary Bank in accordance with the Higher Education Students Financing Act 2014, Section 6 on Powers of the Minister (responsible for Education) and Section 29 subsection (2) and in line with the approval of the Minister of Education and Sports. On approval, all successful loan beneficiaries were required to pay 0.5% of the total annual loan amount in accordance with Higher Education Students Financing Act 2014, Section 30 subsection (1), (2), (3) and (4) and Schedule 5. This rate was approved by the Minister as provided for in the act Successful Loan Beneficiaries by Programme The Higher Education Students Financing Board is committed to support the Government of the Republic of Uganda as routinely emphasized by H.E the President and also in accordance with the National Development Priorities and Vision 2040 of the Country. In this respect, the Board awarded loans to students to pursue twenty six (26) programmes which were approved by the Board under 9 major disciplines. Table 3 Shows Loan Beneficiaries by Discipline. (Also attached as Appendix III) HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS' FINANCING BOARD By Gender Percentages by Gender Beneficiaries by Discipline No. of Beneficiaries Male Female % Male % Female 1 Agriculture (excluding Agricultural Engineering) % 30% 2 Engineering (excluding Petroleum & Geoscience) % 19% 3 Laboratory Science Programmes % 14% 4 Human Medicine (including Physiotherapy & Medical Radiography) % 22% 5 Animal Science (Veterinary Medicine & Animal production) % 11% 6 Nursing (including Midwifery & Community Health) % 26% 7 Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences % 26% 8 Petroleum & Geoscience Engineering % 33% 9 Science Education % 22% TOTALS % 22% 14.0 Participation of Loan Applicants & Beneficiaries by Institution A total of thirteen (13) Chartered Universities were approved by the Board to participate in the Students Loan Scheme; however Muni University did not Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 10 of 19

11 participate because its degree programmes were not among the approved programmes. Table 4 Shows the Number of Successful Loan Applicants by University. (Also attached as Appendix IV) HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS' FINANCING BOARD PARTICIPATION Total No. of No of applicants by Successful Institution Institution Beneficiaries (successful & non by Institution Successful) 1 Bugema University % 0.67% 87.5% 12.5% 2 Busitema University % 8.24% 74.7% 25.3% 3 Gulu University % 3.50% 73.8% 26.2% 4 Islamic University in Uganda % 0.92% 81.8% 18.2% 5 Kampala International University % 30.97% 81.2% 18.8% 6 Kyambogo University % 12.49% 84.0% 16.0% 7 Makarere University % 18.32% 72.7% 27.3% 8 Mbarara University % 6.41% 68.8% 31.2% 9 Ndejje University % 11.41% 81.0% 19.0% 10 Nkumba University % 1.17% 71.4% 28.6% 11 Uganda Christian University % 3.25% 69.2% 30.8% 12 Uganda Martyrs University % 2.66% 90.6% 9.4% 13 Other Non participating Institutions % 0.00% N/A N/A % As Overall Percentages 56.5% 78.2% 21.8% Out of all the 2,125 applicants 1,201 are the actual beneficiaries. This translates into 57% of all the applicants j Of the 1,201, 939 are Male (78%) while 262 are Female (22%) Beneficiaries by Gender % by Gender by Institution % % of Beneficiaries participation by Institution (as a Male Female of all Male Female total of all Applicants by Beneficaires) Institution 15.0 Successful Loan Applicants by District As reported above, the HESFB received students applications from 107 districts, where 5 districts namely: - Amudat, Bulisa, Buvuma, Nakapiripirit and Ntoroko were not represented as no application was received from there. We are happy to note that students qualified from most parts of the Country. Upcountry districts such as Kisoro, Kabale, Manafwa, Rakai, Kamuli, Hoima, Bushenyi, Kanungu, and Rukungiri had over 15 students each qualifying for the loan. Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 11 of 19

12 Table 5 shows distribution of Applicants and Successful Loan Applicants by Gender and District. HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT S FINANCING BOARD SUCCESSFUL LOAN APPLICANTS BY DISTRICT DISTRICT TOTAL FEMALE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TOTAL MALE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TOTAL SUCCESSFUL LOAN APPLICANTS BY DISTRICT ABIM ADJUMANI AGAGO ALEBTONG AMOLATAR AMUDAT AMURIA AMURU APAC ARUA BUDAKA BUDUDA BUGIRI BUHWEJU BUIKWE BUKEDEA BUKOMANSIBI BUKWO BULAMBULI BUNDIBUGYO BUSHENYI BUSIA BULISA BUVUMA BUTALEJA BUTAMBALA BUYENDE DOKOLO GOMBA GULU HOIMA IBANDA IGANGA ISINGIRO JINJA KABALE KABEREMAIDO Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 12 of 19

13 KABALORE KABONG KALANGALA KALIRO KANUNGU KAMPALA KAMULI KAMWEGYE KANUNGU KAPCHORWA KASESE KATAKWI KAYUNGA KIBALE KIBOGA KIBUKU KIRUHURA KIRYANDONGO KISORO KITGUM KIBOKO KOLE KOTIDO KUMI KWEEN KYANKWANZI KYEGEGWA KYENJOJO LAMWO LIRA LUBIRIZI LUUKA LUWEERO LWENGO LYANTONDE MANAFWA MARACHA MASAKA MASINDI MAYUGE MBALE MBARARA MITOOMA MITYANA MOROTO MOYO Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 13 of 19

14 MPIGI MUBENDE MUKONO MWOYA NAKASEKE NAKASONGOLA NAMAYINGO NAMUTUMBA NAPAK NAKAPIRIPRIT NEBBI NGORA NTOROKO NTUGAMO OTUKE OYAM PADER PALISA RAKAI RUBIRIZI RUKUNGIRI SSEMBABULE SERERE SHEEMA SIRONKO SOROTI TORORO WAKISO YUMBE ZOMBO Budget A total of Ugx 5 billion was set aside to fund 1,000 students for the FY 2014/15. The range of the loan amount is Ugx 1,857,000 being the lowest annual loan amount for BSc. Education at Gulu University, while the highest is Ugx 6,000,000 for Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery of Kampala International University. Semester One fees have already been remitted to the participating Universities and 1,192 students have benefited from the Fund in accordance with Table 6 below or Appendix IV. For the 9 students, their Universities have not Invoiced HESFB for payment. Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 14 of 19

15 Table 6 shows the budgetory allocation this financial year by Institution. (also provided as Appendix V in bigger print) HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS' FINANCING BOARD Academic Year 2014/15 Loan Budget Number of Participatinig successful Universities Students Actual number paid for Semester I funds provided (Ugx) Semester I Actual amount remitted Semester II Student Numbers Semester II funds budgeted (Ugx) Comitted Funds (Ugx) for the academic year 1 Busitema University ,700, ,700, ,100, ,800,000 2 Kyambogo University ,817, ,817, ,930, ,747,000 3 Makerere University ,387, ,387, ,664, ,051,500 4 Mbarara University ,672, ,672, ,168, ,840,000 5 Uganda Martyrs Universi ,058,000 58,058, ,058, ,116,000 6 Ndejje University ,457, ,571, ,457, ,915,000 7 Nkumba University ,553,854 18,495, ,553,854 43,107,708 8 Uganda Christian Univers ,668,000 94,285, ,202, ,870,000 9 Gulu University ,734,000 61,743, ,660, ,394, Bugema University ,020,000 12,176, ,020,000 28,040, Kampala Intern Universit ,770, ,120, ,770,000 1,941,540, Islamic University ,270,265 16,270, ,922,075 28,192,340 TOTAL 1,201 1,192 2,388,108,119 2,366,295,319 1,190 2,073,505,429 4,461,613,548 Budget Allocation for Loans for Academic year 2014/15 4,461,613, Loan Coverage The loans awarded to students covered the students tuition fees, functional fees, and research fees. This money was disbursed to the respective students University accounts. Funds for Aids and Appliances for persons living with disabilities (PWD) were to be credited into the Student s Accounts. However despite having awarded loan to 5 students with disabilities none of them required aids and appliances to pursue their higher education studies Loan Appraisals The HESFB secretariat appraised (processed) 2,125 applications. For the loan appraisals, the Board took into consideration social economic status, equity gender, previous academic excellence and regional (district) considerations. All applicants were subjected to a uniform score card which considered proxy indicators to arrive at the Lending Decision. The proxy indicators included: - Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 15 of 19

16 Academic progress, Previous school fees payment history, Orphanage, Amount of Loan required, Parents life status, Family size, Disabilities/special needs, Family income levels, Parents level of education, use of utilities in the home / social amenities enjoyed by the family, access to medical care, and expenses related to accommodating the family. As afore said, needier applicants scored higher than their less needy counterparts. Consquently students who scored more points were given priority in awarding loans Notifying the Successful Loan Applicants The successful loan applicants were notified by SMS messages; HESFB website information and the names of the successful loan applicants were published in the print media (New Vision, the Daily Monitor, the District Focus and the Red Pepper) Release of Results [08 September, 2014]. The results of the successful loan applicants were officially released by Hon. Maj [Rtd] Alupo Jessica Rose Epel (MP), the Minister of Education & Sports on Monday 08 September, 2014 at the Uganda Media Centre. She was accompanied by the Chairperson of the Board; the Chairperson of the committee on Loans and Scholarships; the representative of the Ministry of Education and Sports on the Board together with the Executive Director Loan Awards Loan funds accruing to the students were disbursed directly into the participating University s Bank account. The Universities acknowledged funds for the students and issued general receipts to the Board. It s the responsibility of the Universities to distribute the funds to the respective students internal accounts with the University and ensure accountability and reconciliation of accounts with the Board. Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 16 of 19

17 At present, all supported students have been registered and some of them have already sat Semester One Exams, while others are yet to sit in accordance with respective University time tables Disbursement of Funds All the 12 participating Universities received funds for the first semester. The total amount so far disbursed is Ugx 2,366,295,319 as shown in table 6 above. Ugx 2,073,505,429 is expected to be disbursed in the Second Semester. Table 6 also explains some student movements and reconciliation issues that have so far been identified Sensitization of the Public We run radio sport messages and DJ mention and talk shows on (CBS, Radio West, Radio Rupiny, Arua One FM and Voice of Teso) across the Country. We have carried out radio programmes and Television broadcast specially on UBC, NTV, WBS and Bukedde Television. The radio spot messages are still running on some radios. Our media plan segmented the country into four regions and carried out radio programmes in all the regions targeting at least four to five radio stations in each region. The following radios and Televisions were used during the exercise. i) Eastern region. Radios used were Eastern voice; step radio; Open gate; Mambo radio and Step Television. ii) Central region; radios used were UBC radio; CBS; while the TVs covered UBC; Urban TV, Bukedde Television and NTV. iii) Northern region covered Arua FM and Rupiny FM. iv) Western Region covered Radio west, Voice of Toro and Jubilee FM. Use of Technology to Communicate & Sensitize Students On a good note students have ably utilized our communication channels in forms of and face book. On avarege we communicate to over 30 students using Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 17 of 19

18 both channels. The telephone has also been used to communicate and we have received lots of feedback from our clients from accross the counrty Lists of the beneficiaries. In Appendix II, we have attached the lists of the beneficiaries by Institution, detailing their programmes at University, Districts of origin, Gender, last School attended (before joining the University) and the District in which their Schools are located. We have also detailed the amount of funds which the Board will remit to the respective Universities on behalf of the Students and also the study periods of all the loan beneficiaries. Higher Education Students Financing Board Report 2014/15 Page 18 of 19