A month into the academic calendar at most public universities, students who applied for the government higher education loan scheme remain in limbo.
They are still waiting for the ministry to announce the results, so they can finally know whether they have secured the funds needed for their next academic journey.
Although only a small number of applicants are typically awarded loans, the delay affects all who applied-often thousands of students. This includes those who remain at home because they cannot afford tuition, watching lectures roll on without them.
It also includes those who might pivot to cheaper private courses or alternative programmes but are left uncertain about making that move, because they do not yet know their fate.
To further underscore that the ministry is not sufficiently aligned with the school calendar, this year, the loan application window closed before most government diploma-awarding institutions had even released admission letters.
This forced some students into impossible choices. One student I spoke with had intended to pursue a national diploma in engineering at a government technical college.
But noticing that the application deadline was fast approaching, he quickly applied for a bachelor’s degree somewhere, just to secure an admission letter and submit his loan application on time.
It is also important to note that most institutions require students to complete their registration within the first four weeks of the semester.
Yet, weeks after lectures have begun, the beneficiaries’ list has not yet been released. For students whose entire enrolment hinges on these funds, university deadlines are expiring while they wait on the government.
For the vast majority who will eventually be rejected, every additional day of silence is a day they cannot explore cheaper courses or make alternative plans.
They are held hostage to a verdict that should have been delivered before the academic year began.
I find this situation absurd, especially because it follows a bad pattern we already see with Joint Admissions Board admissions, which are routinely delayed, leaving students with little time to evaluate their options.
This is not just a bureaucratic delay. It is a failure in planning.
The Ministry of Education needs to urgently revise its timelines for admissions, institution start dates, and the awarding of scholarships and loans.
These revisions would give students time to evaluate their choices and decide what to do next, whether that means enrolling, pivoting to a cheaper option, or stepping back entirely with clarity.