Question: What is Higher Education Students  Loans Board (HESLB)?

Answer: The Higher Education Students  Loans Board (HESLB) is a government agency established through Act No. 9 of 2004 whose main objectives are to issue loans to higher education students and to recover the said loans for re-lending to other needy Tanzanian students.

Question: Where is HESLB located?

Answer: The Higher Education Students Loans Board is located at TIRDO Complex, along Kimweri road, Msasani area, Dar es salaam.

Question: Who is eligible for loans?

Answer: Any student who is needy (that is a person who has no financial assistance from any other sources to cover his/her education costs). He/she must be a Tanzanian by nationality and should have been admitted to an Accredited Institution of Higher Learning to pursue either Advanced Diploma or a Degree. Moreover, he/she must have made a written application to the HESLB by filling-in required forms and submitted them within the specified time frame.

Question: What items are financed under the loans?

Answer: The Higher Education Students  Loans Board Act No. 9 of 2004, specifies loanable items as follows:

(a) meals and accommodation charges
(b) books and stationery expenses
(c) special faculty requirements
(d) field practical training expenses
(e) research expenses; and
(f) tuition fees

Question: Which Higher Education Institutions whose students benefit from these loans?

Answer: All accredited higher education institutions which have been licensed to offer courses which lead to attainment of Degrees and /or Advanced Diplomas, both government and privately owned institutions.

Question: How do I go about seeking loans?

Answer: An eligible student applicant is supposed to fill-in specific forms (SLF1, SLF2 & SLF3) and return them to the HESLB within a specified time frame. A non-refundable application fee of Tsh. 30,000/- should be deposited to the HESLB bank account and the duplicate deposit slip be attached to the application forms (this applies to first time loan applicants). These forms are available in many established locations including the colleges/universities or at nearest postal offices. The forms can also be downloaded from HELSB website at www.heslb.go.tz

Question: When and how does a beneficiary repay the loan?

Answer: Every loan beneficiary is liable to repay his/her debt immediately after completion of the course or termination of his/he studies. Loan beneficiaries, who secure employment, should arrange with the employer to ensure remittance to the Board for a period not exceeding ten years. Loans beneficiaries who engage in self-employment should also make necessary arrangement to inform the board and remit the amounts Boards Bank Account No. 2011100205 maintained by the National Micro-finance Bank.

King’amuzi uwezo (Means Testing) ni nini?

Jibu: Huu ni mfumo wa kuchambua na kubaini uwezo wa kiuchumi wa mwombaji mkopo. Ni mfumo wa kompyuta ambao umetengenezwa ili kupokea taarifa na kuzichambua kulingana na vigezo vilivyopo na hatimaye kutoa matokeo juu ya uwezo wa kiuchumi wa mwombaji. Zoezi la kung’amua uwezo wa kiuchumi wa mwombaji hufanywa kwa kutumia taarifa za mwombaji mwenyewe alizotoa katika fomu ya maombi ya mikopo. Matokeo ya zoezi hili huwagawa waombaji katika makundi kumi na moja kama ifuatavyo: A (100%), B (90%), C (80%), D (70%), E (60%), F (50%), G (40%), H (30%), I (20%), J (10%) & K (0%).

Kwa nini wanafunzi wa mwaka wa kwanza wanalipwa kupitia Wahasibu wa vyuo na si kupitia akaunti zao za Benki?

Jibu: Wanafunzi wa mwaka wa kwanza hupewa mikopo kwa ajili ya chakula na malazi kwa siku hamsini (50) za mwanzo kupitia Wahasibu wa vyuo husika. Hii ni kwa sababu Bodi inakwepa kupoteza fedha wakati ambapo mwanafunzi husika anakuwa hajaripoti chuoni. Utaratibu huu unasaidia kuhakikisha kuwa malipo yanafanyika kwa wanafunzi walioripoti chuoni na kusajiliwa tu na fedha za wale wasiokuwepo hurudishwa kwenye Bodi. Malipo mengine yanayofuata hulipwa kupitia akaunti za Benki wa wanafunzi.

Swali: Je, riba ya mikopo ya elimu ya juu ni kiasi gani?

Jibu : Mikopo itolewayo na Bodi kwa Wanafunzi wa elimu ya juu haina riba yoyote kwa sasa. Mkopaji hurejesha kiasi kile kile cha mkopo alichokopeshwa baada ya kumaliza masomo yake.

Swali : Nyaraka zipi huambatanishwa na fomu za maombi ya mkopo ? Je kuna tatizo gani endapo mwombaji hataambatanisha nyaraka hizo ?

Jibu : Nyaraka zifuatazo ni budi ziambatanishwe katika fomu ya maombi ya mkopo na kila mwombaji. Nyaraka hizi ni muhimu kwani huisaidia Bodi kuthibitisha taarifa kadhaa za mwombaji wa mkopo. Nyaraka hizo zisipoambatanishwa huathiri zoezi la uchambuzi wa maombi ya mikopo.Nyaraka hizo ni : (a) Nakala ya cheti cha kuzaliwa  husaidia kuthibitisha uraia wa mwombaji

(b) Nakala za vyeti vya vifo vya wazazi husaidia kuthibitisha uyatima wa mwombaji

(c) Nakala ya ripoti ya kitabibu husaidia kuthibitisha hali ya ulemavu wa mwombaji

(d) Nakala ya vyeti vya kidato cha nne na sita husaidia kuthibitisha ufaulu wa mwombaji

(e) Nakala za nyaraka kama vile barua ya Mtendaji wa kata, bima ya maisha, milki ya ardhi n.k.