HELSB Awards 600 Student Loans to Mukuba University 2024/2025 First-Years

The Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) has awarded 600 student loans to first-year students at Mukuba University for the 2024/2025 academic year.

In a statement on Sunday, HELSB Manager of Corporate Communications, Chiselwa Kawanda, said the board received 1,378 applications, of which 1,218 were eligible for sponsorship.

“Out of the 1,378 applicants, 755 are male, while 623 are female, representing 55% and 45%, respectively”, said Kawanda. 

Additionally, 682 eligible applicants came from rural areas, while 536 were from urban regions.

Notably, no applications were received from individuals with disabilities this year. HELSB and Kawanda encourage people with disabilities to apply in future cycles to ensure they also benefit from sponsorship opportunities.

The student loans are part of a comprehensive commitment to investing in and transforming the education sector.

In June, speaking to a delegation of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) at State House, President Hichilema underscored education as a top priority for his administration. He highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at expanding access to quality education across Zambia.

“Our administration is dedicated to expanding the education sector to ensure more learners have access to quality education,” President Hichilema stated.

The Zambian government has invested over $1 billion in education since 2021. It plans to build over 170 new schools and recruit 55,000 new teachers by 2026, with 37,000 teachers already in place.

Furthermore, Zambia’s free primary and secondary education program, launched in 2021, has significantly increased student enrolment. An additional two million students now attend primary and secondary schools.