Lal: 20 scholarships every year for persons with disabilities
THE Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Services (TSLS) provides 20 scholarships for persons with disabilities every year, but the uptake has been minimal.
TSLS chief executive officer Dr Hasmukh Lal highlighted this while signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between TSLS and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities yesterday.
“In last four years when we look at the data, the government has located around 80 scholarships for students with disabilities but the uptake has been minimal,” Mr Lal said.
“That is what actually prompted TSLS to actually enter into an MOU with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities so that they can jointly advocate their members who are not aware about the scholarship opportunities available for them.
“TSLS is pleased to sign this
MOU with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities to address scholarship needs for persons with disabilities.”
Mr Lal said TSLS had been offering scholarships for students with special needs from the time it was established in 2014.
“We have assisted almost 169 students with a scholarship.
“Out of these 169 students, 98 students have graduated and 71 are still continuing their studies.
“In the last four years, what we have seen is that the government continued to allocate 20 scholarships for students with disabilities.
“Now this is a scholarship; this is not a study loan; this is not TELS.
“Tertiary Scholarship and Loan Service provides scholarships and study loans, what is more commonly known as TELS.
“In scholarships, you don’t have to repay.
“So for the students with disabilities, they’re given scholarships, they’re not given TELS that they have to repay.
“All they need to do is to work in Fiji upon graduation.”
The National Council for Persons with Disabilities executive director Lemeki Cagialau said they were grateful to be part of this initiative.
“It is a milestone for us in achieving this initiative.
“This will provide a pathway for persons with disabilities to access quality education and also to have a sustainable livelihood.”
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