Parliament Approves District Quota System for Student Loans, Boosting Access for Rural Learners

In a significant move to improve educational equity, Parliament has approved the incorporation of a district quota system into the higher education student loan scheme. This development came as part of the Higher Education Students’ Financing (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was passed during a plenary session on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, under the chairmanship of Speaker Anita Among.

Introduced by Hon. Joyce Moriku, the Minister of State for Education and Sports (Primary Education), the Bill aims to implement government policies for the rationalization of government agencies and public expenditures. Despite this, the Committee on Education and Sports, led by Hon. John Twesigye, expressed reservations about the government’s rationalization strategy. The committee argued that incorporating the Higher Education Students Financing Board under the Ministry of Education could hinder the board’s efficiency, particularly in decision-making, disbursing loans, and recovering them. Twesigye, representing Bunyaruguru County, advocated for maintaining the board’s semi-autonomous status, suggesting it be given vote status in the medium term to enhance its operational effectiveness.

Contrasting with the committee’s view, Maracha County MP, Hon. Denis Oguzu, argued for the dissolution of the board, proposing that the funds allocated for its operation be redirected to the students’ loan scheme directly. Oguzu highlighted the current system’s lack of fairness, pointing out that it disproportionately benefits students from more affluent families while disadvantaging those from rural areas with limited access to digital resources. “The board requires online applications, yet the necessary infrastructure is absent in many rural areas, leading to significant disparities in access,” he explained.

Responding to these concerns, the Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. Chrysostom Muyingo, supported the introduction of the district quota system. He assured that the ministry would develop guidelines under the Education Act to ensure that when funds are appropriated, they are equitably distributed across all districts, thereby broadening access to higher education financing.

This legislative update marks a hopeful advancement toward leveling the playing field for students across Uganda, particularly those in rural communities who have historically been marginalized in accessing educational resources.