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RESOLUTION
FROM THE EDUCATION BOARD Africa Federation Student Loan Approval
Disbursement and Recovery Procedure Resolution The following Resolution will be tabled at the 61st Supreme
Council Session to be held in Mombasa from Friday 18th April
2003.
Be it resolved that the procedure outlined in further detail in the
Africa Federation student Loan Approval, Disbursements and recovery
policy is herby applicable and binding upon all Member Jamaats in
respect of the Student Higher Education Loan Scheme as further set out
in that policy.
PREAMBLE: Policy: Promotion of Higher Education for all. Introduction: The aim of the new proposal to change the
procedure is to create more grass-root level involvement. This will have
the effect of creating more efficiency and reliability in approving and
disbursing funds, as Jamaats will have better socio economic knowledge of
the applicants. It should also improve the recovery rate from the students
as the Jamaats are closer to the applicant then the Federation would be. Proposed Procedure: 1) The Student applies for a loan to his Home Jamaat. 2)
The Jamaat Education Board approve or disapprove loans
based on the criteria set by the Africa Federation Education board. For
every case where there is a rejection the Jamaat has to provided a written
reason to the student with a copy to the federation. 3) The Jamaats send a list of all approved and disapproved students to the Federation with stating the amount required from the Federation. 4)
The Federation will require the Jamaats to submit a payment
schedule, accompanied by a full set of application forms for each student
and the guarantees. (There will be 3 Guarantors required 2 from the student
to the respective Jamaat and one from the Jamaat to the Federation for their
50 % commitment. The 2 from the students will be of the full amount to the
Jamaat) 5)
The Federation will supply the Jamaats with a consolidated
repayment schedule, which the Jamaats will be required to confirm. 6)
Once all the documentation is completed between the Jamaat
and The Federation the Federation will remit their 50% of the share to each
respective Jamaat. 7)
Every Year based
on the agreed repayment schedules the Federation will invoice each Jamaat
who will be expected to pay immediately. 8)
The Jamaats will have the primary responsibility of the
collection of the debt with support being provided by the Education Board. 9)
The Appeal procedure: - i) All students will be informed on the loan application form that in the event of the student not being in agreement with the local Jamaat’s decision they have a right of appeal to the EBS by putting their appeal in writing. ii) The student would still have a right to a final appeal, and would need to make a written appeal and send it directly to the Africa Federation Secretariat. A copy of this final appeal is sent to the Local Jamaat and to the Appeal Board. iii) The Appeal Board
will consist of the Chairman of Africa Federation, 2 Education Board Members
and one Member from the local Jamaat. What Each Party has to do to
Make this a success. 1) The Role Of The Federation a) The Federation would have to carry out training for each Jamaat’s education board on procedures of accepting applications, vetting and processing for payment. b)
The federation will monitor the fairness of applications by having an
audit and appeal procedure in place. 2) The Role Of The Jamaats a) The Jamaats would have to give the scheme full support and follow all the laid down procedures. b) The Jamaats would have to create an education board c)
The Jamaats would need to avail their education board members for
extensive training. The New Role Of The Education
Board a) Initially the Education board would train the Jamaat’s Education Board. b) They would carry out regular audits of the Jamaats. c) The Education Board would handle the special loan schemes and awards e.g. MGN and Brilliant Student schemes. d) The Education Board would negotiate preferred rates for our students directly with higher education institutions. e) They would visit and review our own education institutions with a view to further improve the present standards and facilities. f) Finally, they would provide Higher Education Career Counseling. g) The Board should look at developing a system of Education policies for students. h)
Promote the theory of Education for all. Conclusion: It can be said that with a
scheme like this in place our communities educational needs will be handled
more efficiently and there are positive cost implications. There certainly
is need to get involvement at grass – root level which will instill a
grater sense of responsibility on the part of the Jamaats and the recipients
of loans. The single largest benefit to the community would be that the
Education Board of the Africa Federation would be made available to look at
the larger overall structural education needs of our community. BARKAT RAJANI |
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