The effect of the higher education students’ financing scheme on access to university education in Uganda.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of the Higher Education Students Financing Scheme on access to university education in Uganda. Guided by the social inclusion theory and the neoliberal perspective on equity, the study focused on the effects of loan administration, distribution, and recovery mechanisms on equitable access to university education in Uganda. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data was collected through closed-ended questionnaires from 222 loan beneficiaries randomly selected from four universities. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics at the univariate level and Pearson‘s correlation with linear regression at the bivariate level. Results revealed moderate, significant positive relationships between access to university education and loan administration (r=0.642, p<0.001), distribution (r=0.254, p<0.001), and repayment (r=0.448, p<0.001). These findings suggest that although the Higher Education Students Financing Scheme improves access to university education, gaps remain that could hinder its effectiveness. Therefore, it is recommended that the Ministry of Education and Sports, through the Higher Education Students Financing Department, enhance information dissemination to prospective applicants, ensure fairness in loan allocation across gender, disciplines, and regions, and develop proactive strategies to improve loan repayment to prevent student over-indebtedness.