Tertiary students get Govt HELP

According to the Minister, the programme is a soft loan that will allow students who are studying in Trinidad and Tobago to borrow up to TT$25,000 per year, for three years and $75,000 for students who are pursuing qualifications in any of the regional campuses of the University of the West Indies (UWI), or St George’s University in Grenada.

HELP is also designed to assist students in meeting expenses not covered by the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme — for example accommodation and transportation.

Abdul-Hamid also added that the Government will provide a 100 percent guarantee on HELP loans and students will have to repay the loan six months after they have completed their tertiary education programme.

He said Government will also pay the interest payment on behalf of the student.

Chief Executive Officer of First Citizens Bank, Larry Howai, noted that HELP is an important step for the country in its quest to achieve developed nation status by 2020.

Students can access application forms for HELP at any commercial bank.