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61st
SUPREME COUNCIL SESSION 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. 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 provide 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 4)
The
Federation will require the Jamaats to submit a payment schedule, accompanied by a full
set of application forms from each student and the guarantee forms signed by the
2 guarantors in favour of Africa Federation 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) Member
Jamaat will be expected to pay the Federation immediately upon receipts of repayments from
the students. In the event that monies are not
recovered from the students within 5 years, the loan will be transferred to the
Education Board of Africa Federation with all the supporting documentations for the Africa
Federation to follow up in the best way it deems fit. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 to instill a greater sense of responsibility on the part of the Jamaats and loan recipients. 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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