Welcome to our website ajiraonline.com, In This Article, vigezo vya kupata mkopo loan allocation status OLAS Portal SIPA Heslb account HESLB GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR ISSUANCE OF STUDENTS’ LOANS AND GRANTS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025.

The HESLB (Higher Education Students’ Loans Board) loan application process is an essential step for Tanzanian students seeking financial assistance to pursue higher education. The board facilitates the loan application through its user-friendly online platform, providing a convenient and accessible way for eligible candidates to secure financial support. To initiate the application, students must carefully follow the guidelines outlined by HESLB, ensuring they meet the specified criteria and deadlines. The process involves providing accurate information, including the Form Four Index Number, relevant documents certified by authorities, and ensuring that all details are correctly filled out on the application form. The online system streamlines the application process, enhancing efficiency and transparency.

During the designated application window, which typically spans several weeks, students can submit their loan applications through the official HESLB website. The board considers various eligibility parameters, including citizenship, admission to accredited higher education institutions, financial neediness, and academic performance. The loan amounts are allocated based on the means testing system, covering essential aspects like tuition fees, accommodation, books, and other related expenses. The HESLB loan application process plays a crucial role in promoting equal access to higher education by providing financial aid to eligible Tanzanian students, thereby fostering educational opportunities and national development.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL LOAN APPLICANTS.

Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB)

The Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB) is a body corporate established under Act No.9 of 2004 (as amended in 2007, 2014 and 2016) with the objective of assisting needy and eligible Tanzania students to access loans and grants for higher education.

All loan applicants for Academic Year 2024/2025 are required to observe the following:-

• Adhere to the application procedures outlined in these guidelines;
• Verify that the Form Four Index Number used during the loan application corresponds with the one utilized in the admission application to the University or College;
• If an applicant has taken the Form Four Examination multiple times, it is mandatory to enumerate all Form Four Index Numbers;
• Certify all documents submitted for application by the relevant authorities as specified in these guidelines;
• Verify the certification of birth/death certificates by the Registration, Insolvency, and Trusteeship Agency (RITA), or Zanzibar Civil Status Registration Agency (ZCSRA) to ensure their validity;
• For applicants born abroad, secure a letter from RITA or ZCSRA to authenticate birth information. Those with parent(s) who passed away abroad should also obtain a letter from RITA to validate the provided information;
• Complete and sign the loan application form before submission;
• Ensure accurate and complete filling of bank account details in the application form. It is crucial to note that, if successful, the provided bank details will be used for payment processing and may not be altered without prior notice to HESLB;
• Supply a registered and reachable mobile phone number. This provided mobile phone number will be utilized to update the applicant on the progress of the loan application;
• Strictly adhere to the stipulated application deadline.

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OVERVIEW

These Guidelines applies to students who wish to apply for higher education loans to facilitate their undergraduate studies in local higher education institutions in academic year 2024-2025. In order to allow students to apply, the application window for Academic Year 2024/2025 will be open from 15^th July, 2024 through 15^th October, 2024.

NEEDINESS AND ELIGIBILITY PARAMETERS 

HESLB Act and regulations provide for general eligibility and criteria for postsecondary financial assistance. Therefore, students admitted in accredited higher education institutions will be subjected to the following parameters: –

Primary Criteria for Financial Support

First year applicants

• A Tanzania citizen not older than 35 years at the time of application;
• Full time admission into an accredited higher education institution in Tanzania including the Open University of Tanzania;
• A complete and correct application through the Online Loan Application and Management System (OLAMS);
• Must not have a formal or regular income from employment or established contract in either public or private sector;
• Proof to have repaid at least 25% of any previous loan received from HESLB. This is applicable only to students ever dropped or discontinued from studies;
• Must have completed ACSEE or other equivalent qualifications within five (5) years, i.e. from 2019-2023 inclusive.

Primary Criteria for continuing loan beneficiaries (CLB) and firsttime continuing applicants (FTCA)   

For the purpose of these Guidelines, CLB are HESLB loan beneficiaries who are proceeding into second and subsequent years of studies. Further, FTCAs are continuing students who are not HESLB loans beneficiaries and they would wish to be considered for loans in the 2023/2024.  

In addition to criteria under 3.1, for both CLBs and FTCAs to be considered for loans; HESLB must receive approved academic progress report from respective HEIs establishing that the applicant has qualified/passed. Therefore, FTCAs are advised to consult Loan Desk Officers at their respective institution for guidance. 

Secondary Criteria Resource allocation parameters  

To balance equity and national priorities, the following parameters will be applicable in the order of priority

The socio-economic status (SES) 

• Orphanage

• Household vulnerability such as TASAF or any other relevant national support schemes

• Self and parent disability

• Sex

• Parent/ guardian employment status

Ranking and awarding considerations

The following parameters will be used to determine weights for individual applicants: –

• National priority programs as detailed in program impact clustering under Section 4 of these Guidelines;

• Academic performance based on entry qualification award (academic merit); and

• Affirmative and inclusion parameters to respond to sex, geopolitics and union related ambitions.  

Relevant documents to support application  

The following are the key documents to support application: –

• Death certificate to prove orphanage (RITA or ZCSRA);
• Self-Disability Form (SDF-1) endorsed by the District Medical Officer (DMO) or Regional Medical Officer (RMO) or any designated medical expert with recognized affiliations;
• Parent Disability Form (PDF-2) endorsed by the District Medical Officer (DMO) or Regional Medical Officer (RMO) or any designated medical expert with recognized affiliations;
• Corporate Sponsorship Form (SCSF-3) supporting financial assistance received by applicant during pre-university/college schooling. SCSF-3 to be endorsed by applicant’s corporate sponsor;
• Household vulnerability evidence endorsed by approved District Social Welfare Officer;
• Retirement letter endorsed by the last employer recognized by the National Pension Scheme;
• Social Support Beneficiary’s number from Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF).

PROGRAMME CLUSTERS

All accredited degree programmes shall be categorized into three clusters reflecting national priorities as defined in the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS). The NSDS provide six thematic areas listed as high impact drivers towards attainment of the National economic growth. These includes the following: –

• Agribusiness, 
• Tourism and hospitality, 
• Energy, 
• Transport and logistics, 
• Construction and
• ICT

Cluster One Programmes

• Education in Science Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics ICT and Technical and Vocational Training;
• Health Sciences (Doctor of Medicine, Dental Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Midwifery, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Physiotherapy, Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Laboratory sciences, Radiotherapy Technology);
• Engineering sciences: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Mining, Mineral and Processing, Textile, Chemical and Processing, Agriculture, Food and Processing, Automobile, Industrial, Maritime Transportation, Marine Technology, Electronics and Telecommunication, and Bio- Processing and Post-Harvest, Water and Irrigation, Aircraft Maintenance and Pilot Engineering
• Petroleum Geology, Petroleum Chemistry, Oil and Gas;
• ICT and Programming, Information Systems Management;
• Actuarial and Data sciences;
• Agriculture, Forestry, Animal Sciences and Production Management; and
• Bachelor of Arts in Kiswahili.
• Education in Technical and Vocational Training  

Cluster Two Programmes

• Basic Sciences: Applied Zoology, Botanical, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Aquatic Environmental Sciences and Conservation, Geology, Mathematics and Statistics, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Health, Wildlife and Conservation, Environmental and Industrial Metrology; and
• Lands and Valuation Sciences: (Architecture, Landscape and Architecture, Interior Design, Building Survey, Building Economics, Urban and Regional Planning, Land Management and Valuation and Geospatial Technology. 

Cluster Three Programmes

Humanities, Business Management and Social Sciences: Accountancy, Marketing, Finance, Economics, Statistics, Environment, Community Development, Social Welfare, Development studies, Sociology, Political Sciences, Arts, painting, creative science, Music, Law and Legal Studies, Languages, Literature, Geography, Psychology, Anthropology, Archeology, Media and Communications Studies.,

All new programmes received by HESLB shall be included into the abovementioned categories respectively.

MEANS TESTING, LOAN ITEMS AND AMOUNTS TO BE ALLOCATED

Means Testing System

Means Testing (MT) will be used to determine applicants’ neediness for loan allocation based on tuition fee paid in CSEE, ACSEE and/or equivalent qualifications including diplomas. 

Loan Items and Maximum Amounts  

Successful applicants will be financed a maximum amount equivalent to established neediness. The established maximum lump sum will be distributed in the loan items as per the following sequence; Meals and Accommodation (MA), Tuition Fee (TF), Books and Stationery Expenses (BS), Special Faculty Requirements (SFR), Research Expenses (RES) and finally Field Practical Training (FPT). 

HESLB may provide loans to cover all or some of the following items:-

Meals and Accommodation (MA)

MA maximum amount will be calculated at TZS. 10,000.00 per day during on campus training as per HEIs almanac for respective academic year. 

Tuition fee rates

The maximum tuition fee of TZS 3,100,000.00 per annum based on the comparable rates charged by public institution. 

Books and stationery expenses

A maximum of TZS 200,000.00 per annum for Books and Stationery may be granted to eligible and needy students

Special Faculty Requirement (SFR)   

Subject to Means Testing results, applicant may be availed with Special Faculty Requirement (SFR) loans up to 100% but only for study programmes that require special faculty requirement items and only for specified items as approved by TCU/NACTVET based on the rates comparable to public institutions.

Upon request, eligible and needy students with disability may be considered for additional loan to carter for assistance and special academic material requirements as may be determined by HESLB. 

Field practical training/Teaching Practical (FPT)

Field Practical Training/Teaching Practical (FPT) loans at the rate of TZS 10,000.00 per day up to a maximum of 56 days in a year. 

HESLB may provide such loans for those programmes that require Field Practical Training (FPT) as recommended by the respective Higher

Education Institutions and approved by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) and the National Council for Technical and Vocational Educational Training (NACTVET).

Research Expenses

HESLB may provide 100% loans for Research expenses in selected fields only, based on the rates applicable at public institutions and as may be endorsed by either TCU or NACTVET. These fields include:- 

• Health Sciences 
• Engineering
• Agriculture
• Land Sciences
• Other eligible undergraduate programmes may be given Research loans to the tune of TZS 100,000.00 in their final year of study.

Continuing Students Who Are Loan Beneficiaries

All continuing loan beneficiaries shall be eligible for subsequent loan allocation and disbursement after HESLB has received examination results confirming the beneficiaries have passed and qualify to continue with studies in subsequent year.  

Further, beginning academic year 2024/2025, all SECOND YEAR

STUDENTS will be REQUIRED to submit their National Identification Number (NIN), the Registration number and the Bank Account details before any disbursement is made to them through their SIPA Account.

Payment Mode

Payments for MA, BS, FPT, SFR and RES items shall be made directly to students while TF shall be paid to the respective Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). All payments shall be effected after the students’ acknowledgement through prescribed method at respective Higher Education Institution through verified bank account details provided during application for loans. 

In the event a student does not sign or acknowledge receipt of fund on time, the loan shall be returned to HESLB after expiry of 30 days from the date the transaction information was received at the Higher Education Institution and student notified through mobile phone. The amount RETURNED shall not be paid back to a student. However, the unpaid amount shall not be part of the beneficiary’s debt.  Any subsequent payments must be confirmed by the respective HEI.

OTHER CONDITIONS

Liability of guarantors and parents

Parents/Guarantors are responsible for confirmation of correctness and accuracy of information submitted in the application before signing.

Guarantors are expected to ensure that loans are repaid and must be aware of the beneficiaries’ whereabouts until the loan is fully repaid. In case of default, guarantors shall be responsible to settle the due unpaid loan in full.

An applicant is required to append Guarantor’s passport size photo and a certified copy of one of the following Identifications issued by Government authorities of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar:-

• National Identification card;
• Voter’s registration card;
• Driving License; (iv) Tanzanian Passport; or (v) Zanzibar Resident ID.

Loan Repayment

Upon completion of higher education studies, a loan beneficiary shall be required to repay his/her loan in full or through monthly deductions of not less than 15% of basic salary/income or a sum not less than TZS 100,000.00 a month for beneficiaries in full the informal sector. In case of termination of studies, the total amount received shall be repaid in full. All loans shall be subject to one-time 1% administration fee on principal amount. 

INTER-UNIVERSITY AND INTERNAL TRANSFERS

In the event a loan beneficiary transfers from one Higher Education Institution to another or shift from one degree programme to another within the same Higher

Education Institution, loan transfer will be executed upon receiving confirmation from relevant authorities. HESLB shall not raise a duplicate loan payment to students who voluntarily move to other Higher Education Institutions.

Transfers will not trigger upward changes on the initial loan amounts allocated to individual beneficiaries unless the student was transferred by authorities.

MODE OF APPLICATION

All loan applications will be done through Online Loan Application and Management System (OLAMS). Applicants are REQUIRED to use the same Form Four Index Number used while applying for admission.

Upon completion of online loan application process, applicant SHOULD print out the application form and Loan Agreement. Thereafter, obtain appropriate authentications, sign the forms, attach necessary documents. After obtaining authentications, signing the form and attaching necessary documents, the applicant will be required to upload necessary attachments and signed pages (number 2 and 5) of the application form into OLAMS.

LOAN APPLICATION FEE

Applicants must pay a non-refundable, one-off application fee of TZS 30,000.00 using system generated control number vide bank (NMB, CRDB, TCB, NBC) or mobile money networks (Airtel Money, AzamPesa, M-PESA, TigoPesa) for details visit: https://olas.heslb.go.tz.

LOAN APPLICATION DEADLINE

The Loan Application window for 2024/2025 opens on 15^th July, 2024 to 15^th October, 2024. These Guidelines are available in www.heslb.go.tz.

Publication of the list of Successful Loan Applicants

A list of successful loan applicants with their corresponding allocations shall be published through the Student’s Individual Permanent Account (SIPA) used during application or on HESLB website: www.heslb.go.tz after Batch Approval.

APPEAL AGAINST AWARDED LOAN AMOUNTS

Unsatisfied applicant may complete and submit an appeal through Online Appeal window which will be open from 15^th-20^th November, 2024 and thereafter results will be communicated through SIPA.   

INQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS

Applicants or loan beneficiaries with inquiries or complaints will have to follow procedures displayed in the loan application window’s Helpdesk.