The Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board (HESLGB) has started giving out loans to students who applied for the 2018/2019 academic year.

Executive Director for the board, Chris Chisoni said they already submitted the names of beneficiaries to respective colleges following the approval of the list by the board of directors on 29 June this year.

“So far we have disseminated the information to the universities and colleges so that the students who have been successful should verify their names,” he said.

“When their academic calendars have commenced we will go there and vet the process and sign the contracts with the students so that we disperse the loans.”

About 12,725 students from both public and private universities and colleges are expected to benefit from the loans this year.

Chisoni however showed satisfaction on how the loan repayment is progressing so far saying by May this year they have managed to collect over K500 million from former beneficiaries.

He appealed to others who haven’t paid back their loans to do so in order to give the board the capacity to reach out to so many deserving students.