NUGS expresses disappointment in government over Student's Loan issues

National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS)

President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Isaac Jay Hyde, has expressed his disappointment in the government regarding challenges confronting the Student Loan Trust Fund.

Taking his turn to give a situational report at NUGS’ Central Committee meeting at the University of Education, Kumasi Campus, he asserted that governments over the years have failed to put in measures in place to resolve capital challenges of the Fund.

“It is quite unfortunate that the government of the day has disappointed us regarding student loans. My predecessors had met the higher level of government engagement including the Vice President as to how best student loan challenges can be resolved. In September this year, we are going to have an input of over 30,000 cumulatively this year joining the mainstream education. Now we introduce Free SHS and common sense should tell us that immediately when these people should progress to the university then they are more likely to be on the Student Loan and therefore you’d expect that the government of the day will have projected and put in mechanisms to forestall these challenges” he stated.

Isaac Jay Hyde further noted that it is unwise on the part of the government to spend GETFUND Scholarships to the detriment of Student Loans.

“The audit report says that we spend 72 million Ghana Cedis on Student Loans meanwhile government awards 97 million Ghana Cedis worth of scholarship for people to study abroad. But I throw this question to you, between those who are taking loan to pay their fees and those who are taking it for free, who should we concentrate on?” he queried

The NUGS Central Committee meeting is a meeting to discuss issues of interest to the development of education, students, and youth of the country.

Earlier this year, a number of student groups including NUGS, had threatened actions against the government over its inability to pay student loans but rescinded after the government promised disbursement last month.