Student loan scheme: HEC still waiting for ministry approval

HEC has been working for to draft an appropriate proposal which will help the students in the country on a wider scale

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) Student Loan Scheme which might help students in getting quality education and prevent an ongoing ‘brain drain’ still needs a go-ahead from the finance ministry. According to the proposed loan scheme, students will be able to get loans and financial aid to complete their higher education. Under the programme, students will also be able to apply to recognised foreign universities. The HEC has been working for two years to draft an appropriate proposal which will help the students in the country on a wider scale. An assessment of the applicant and his family’s economic resources will be carried out before providing loan. The student loan facility may be offered initially to students in public sector universities and the facility will then be extended to students in private sector universities.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2012.