Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 128872,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/128872/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 247,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Ojaamong",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Labour",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 196,
        "legal_name": "Sospeter Odeke Ojaamongson",
        "slug": "sospeter-ojaamongson"
    },
    "content": "Whereas we appreciate that HELB has done its best in assisting university students, we feel that there is a very big gap, because majority of high school dropouts need to join middle-level colleges. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, personally, I support the Motion. I feel that the Ministry should move with speed to request more funds from the Ministry of Finance, so that these students can benefit. As much as we appreciate the work that is being done by HELB, I also want to add my voice and say that HELB should be proactive. Personally, I have paid my HELB loan. I urge other people who may not have paid to do so. There are so many NGOs that tend to operate in secrecy. They solicit a lot of money in the name of assisting most of our students, right from nursery school to middle- level colleges and university. Unfortunately, this money does not reach the intended beneficiaries. If HELB went round the country, and the East African region and beyond, they would be able to solicit a substantial amount of money that will enable them to assist our needy students. So, I want to add my voice and say that HELB should not just be seated at Anniversary Towers. They should go out and start soliciting for funds. They should solicit for cheaper loans, which I am told are found elsewhere in the developed countries, so that our people can borrow this money and pay it back later on. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, HELB has been living in an ivory tower – just at the Anniversary Towers. There is no single time I have heard that these people have gone down to the constituencies to talk to stakeholders, including the students themselves, on the problems they face. It is necessary that HELB moves out of the ivory tower they are living in and talks to people, so that some of us and other stakeholders can be give them ideas on how best to improve the Board. I know that this is a very important Motion. I will not even waste time, but just request my fellow legislators that we move with speed and, if necessary, amend the Higher Education Loans Board Act, so that majority of the students, who leave high school, can benefit. I am appealing to the Ministry of Finance to ensure that during the Supplementary Budget, we give HELB more money than even the Office of the"
}