The Students? Loans Trust (SLT), which was expected to take off this month, will now become operational in September 2005.
Times investigations revealed that a number of preparatory tasks remained uncompleted, and that the practical and logistical requirements for ensuring a sound organizational, legal and financial structure for the SLT had not yet all been met.
As a result, arrangements are being made with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to extend loans to members of the new crop of university students beginning their courses in the 2004/2005 academic year, as well as to other first-time loan applicants.
Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State in Charge of Tertiary Education, told newsmen in an interview that the government was bent on introducing a system that would be ?capable of recording, monitoring and tracking the recipients of loans, which required a robust database platform.? She said it was envisaged that the proposed database platform should include provision for a 24-hour call centre to answer loan and repayment enquiries.
Ms. Ohene said a memorandum on the SLT would be presented to the Cabinet for consideration and approval by the end of this year. The operation of the proposed SLT will be decentralized and networked, with Student Loan Offices being located on the university campuses and manned by Loan Officers of the Trust, with supporting staff.
