Parents and students admitted to institutions of higher learning have been asked to exercise patience and be assured that payment of their assistance allowances will be made not later than 31^st March 2021

The plea was made by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security Makhosi Vilakati when announcing a delay in processing assistance allowances for first-year students.  

Mkhaliphi said students who will be affected are those registered at UNESWA, LUCT, SANU, William Pitcher College, ECOT, Eswatini Christian Medical University, Good Shepard Nursing College, Ngwane Teachers College, and Gwamile VOCTIM.   

He said the delay was caused by COVID-19 work related stoppages in the students study loans processing office.

“Between October 2020 and January 2021, a number of our offices have not only been affected but also infected by the pandemic, and in accordance with the national guidelines on infection prevention, and control of COVID-19, officers have had to be isolated for treatment, care and observation and the office have had to be closed down for fumigation for five instances,” narrated Mkhaliphi.

The PS added that the above affected the signing of study loan agreements, and capturing of student information into the scholarship system.