By Fatou Dahaba
The National Assembly unanimously adopted the report of the Joint Committee of Finance and Public Accounts (FPAC) and Education, Training, and ICT on the Student Revolving Loan Scheme Bill 2025 during its session on Monday, March 17. The bill, first introduced on June 24, 2024, during the Fourth Ordinary Session, aims to provide an alternative funding source for students ineligible for government scholarships, ensuring broader access to tertiary education.
The innovative scheme is designed as a revolving fund, where beneficiaries repay their loans upon completing their studies and securing employment, creating a sustainable system to support future generations of students. The joint committee’s report emphasized that the loans should extend beyond tuition fees to include essential expenses such as rent, transport, and textbooks. However, these additional costs will remain optional for applicants.
Key recommendations from the committee include adequate guarantees before loans are granted, with provisions to address potential challenges like illness or death. The report also proposed a diverse board for the scheme, comprising representatives from the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), the National Association of Vocational & Skills Training Institutes (NAVSTI), public and private universities, TVET centers, and the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC). Notably, the committee suggested that ministerial representatives should be officials at or above the director level rather than permanent secretaries and that student union representation rotate among recognized bodies.
Another focal point of the report was the president’s appointment of the scheme’s Executive Director, to be made in consultation with the board and the Public Service Commission. The committee urged the Assembly to adopt these recommendations as part of the final bill.
During the session, lawmakers voiced strong support for the bill while raising practical concerns. Almameh Gibba, a member of Foni Kansala, hailed the bill as a transformative step to reshape the nation’s educational landscape.
Suwabou Touray, representing Wuli East, cautioned that optional expenses like rent and transport could strain the scheme if not carefully managed, suggesting the construction of student quarters in new schools to ease accommodation challenges.
Bakary Kora of Upper Fulladu West sought clarification on guarantors’ liability in cases where a student passes away before completing their education.
Lamin Ceesay of Kiang West stressed the importance of consulting students, parents, and student bodies during the bill’s development, arguing that their input is critical to ensuring equitable implementation. Addressing these concerns, co-chairperson Alagie Mbowe of Upper Saloum clarified that additional expenses would be tailored to individual needs, ensuring flexibility and fairness in the application process.
The bill comes at a critical time, as the existing scholarship system struggles to accommodate rising enrollment and costs, leaving many deserving students without support. By prioritizing marginalized groups—such as women, girls, and differently abled individuals—and addressing skills gaps in key sectors, the Student Revolving Loan Scheme Bill 2025 promises to unlock educational opportunities and foster a self-sustaining funding model for the future.
