Student loan applications available in April, says secretary

The National National

THE higher education loan programme (Help) applications will be available from April 27 on the Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (DHERST) website, an official says.
DHERST secretary Fr Jan Czuba made the announcement last week that the Tertiary Education Student Assistance Scheme (Tesas) would cease and Help financing would commence.
“Help will be the only available scholarship for all students for years to come,” he said.
“Existing Tesas awardees will have the opportunity to elect to transfer to Help under new student contract conditions, currently being developed.”
Czuba said January to May would be a transition period from Tesas to Help.
He said his department was instructed by Prime Minister James Marape and DHERST Minister Nick Kuman to introduce Help in the second semester of 2020.
“This provides time for students, parents and sponsors to learn more about Help,” he said.
Czuba said students interested in applying for Help funding would have enough time to obtain their National Identification (NID) cards and the Tax Identification Number – important pre-requisites for making a Help application.
“We will be working very closely with all higher education institutions over the transition period to ensure that all students are well informed about Help,” he said.
“We will finalise policy positions, terms, and conditions on such matters as eligibility criteria, application and assessment processes, loan agreements, lending guidelines and other matters made in accordance with regulations under the Higher Education (General Provisions) Act.
“We will develop full operational requirements of PNG-Help in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act in readiness for the commencement of loan applications and the issuing of loans for the commencement of the second semester of the 2020 academic year.”
Czuba said Help would also be made available for Doctoral, Masters and other postgraduate programmes, meeting the Government’s goal of providing a full range of quality education at the post-secondary level and beyond.

9 comments

  • Can someone let us know how students will register now at the start of the first semester? Will they be allowed to register without paying any fees in the meantime? Or will they be required to pay their fees prior to commencement of their studies?

  • And as parent supportly to Josef.Y.R, question putting us the parents in to where to fit in here as well, give us us delivery of first hand infor, this disrupts some students ( son / daugthers) education at risk by giving high hopes opportunity which planned and structured well, please give us the parents the best information to here our children at well

  • Yes, I support Josef. DHERST please tell us ASAP how our students will register at Universities nationwide

    We parents are waiting to hear from you

  • In line with the above, if we parents are to pay their school fees for the first semester, how much are we to pay? full or half and the scheme (loan by students) assists in second semester? Can the DHERST direct all higher institution to be aware that all student will be looking forward for the loan scheme that will assist their parents. I suggests all Institutions should only charge for first semester across the board. In the second semester only those who pass and continue will submit for loan for second semester. DHERST use your authority to advise the higher Institutions please

  • Those students who would be attending Universities in 2020 but don’t have any NID and Tax Number as the criteria to qualify for the HELP programme. Will the Institutions assist the students in that matter?

  • The PM announced the scheme on 2nd Dec and it will start 147 days; if it happens, on 27th April. That is at least a quarter of the way through the academic year.

  • Should we decide to pay the On-Registration Fee upfront, will the monies be reimbursed once the HELP scheme is on-line later this year?

  • This more important to our students whom may will pursue their education in Tertiary Institutions for 2020 Academic Year.

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