Laptop loans for 13,851 students

Disna Mudalige

The Higher Education Ministry has issued letters to 13,851 students directing them to nominated banks as at the end of October, enabling them to initiate loans to obtain laptops, said the Ministry Progress Report for 2011.

It stated that this loan scheme was launched in 2011 with the support of public and private banks to develop IT skills of students by supporting them to learn on their own. Students entering public universities in 2011 are eligible for a loan to a maximum of Rs 75,000 from branches of selected banks countrywide. Students are given options for laptops as well as for payments under the scheme.

This programme is being carried out under the supervision and direction of the Central Bank and under the legal provision declared by the Human Capital Development Act 10.

According to Ministry assessments, a demand

of 15,000 loans is expected. The students can repay in few installments such as two, five or ten etc or in 36 installments from January 2012 or after graduation and obtaining a job.