Giving wings to dreams for poor students

(Baonghean)The credit program for students in difficult circumstances according to Decision 157/2007/QD-TTg has truly become a solid support for tens of thousands of poor students in Nghe An to have the opportunity to pursue their dreams of studying and having a career from policy capital for their future.

In Trung Hau hamlet, Nhan Thanh commune, Yen Thanh, everyone knows Ms. Tran Thi Dao, who is poor but has raised 2 children to attend university. Ms. Dao said: Raising 4 children to study while relying only on a few fields of rice makes life very precarious. The couple had to work many jobs, there was a time when they thought their children's education would "fail halfway".

Fortunately, in 2007 we were able to borrow 12 million VND from the Yen Thanh District Policy Bank from the Government's Credit Program. The children's studies were not interrupted, Hoang Thi Linh, who had just graduated from the National Economics University, found a job at the Hanoi Medical Joint Stock Company. Hoang Thi Trang is in her 4th year at the National Economics University, and at the beginning of the first semester this year, the family will continue to borrow capital from the Policy Bank for her to continue her studies. Nguyen Thi Hue's family also has a child, Dang Van Tu, in his 2nd year at the University of Transport, who also borrowed capital from the student program.

Ms. Hue confided: The main income from farming and raising pigs is not enough to support 1 child in secondary school and 1 child in university. The family's debt at this time is 19 million VND, but I am still very happy because my child can go to university. Or like Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Muu in Bac Van hamlet, who has 4 children in university, has a total outstanding debt of over 52 million VND.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tuan - Director of Yen Thanh Social Policy Bank said: Up to this point, the total outstanding debt for students is 338,072 million VND, communes with large outstanding debt such as Tang Thanh commune 9,591 million VND, Long Thanh 9,553 million VND, Duc Thanh 7,844 million VND... The number of customers with outstanding debt is 14,543 households, with 17,653 students receiving loans.

The Do Luong District Policy Bank has done a good job of lending money to poor students. According to Ms. Hoang Thi Ty - Head of the Dong Son Commune Loan Group - Do Luong, the total outstanding debt of the group is 1,383.6 million VND. This program has created more motivation, promoted the tradition of studiousness in the poor countryside, and households are assured to send their children to school.



Customers apply for loans at the Social Policy Bank, Do Luong Branch.

Mr. Trinh Ngoc Son's family in Hamlet 5, Dong Son - Do Luong, whose main occupation is farming, has raised 3 children to go to university, including Trinh Ngoc Tien studying at the University of Dentistry, Trinh Ngoc Tuan - University of Transport, Trinh Thu Hien - Trade Union University. The family's total outstanding debt to date is over 103 million VND. According to Mr. Son, Trinh Ngoc Tien, who is studying at the University of Dentistry, has graduated, and with a high salary, will save money to pay off the debt on time with his parents. In addition, Mr. Dang Quang Cuong's family has 3 children studying at university: Dang Quang Cuong - Thai Binh Medical University, Dang Quang Khuong - Trade Union University, Dang Quang Truong - Vinh University, with a total outstanding debt of over 89 million VND. It is known that the total outstanding debt of Dong Son commune for the student program alone is over 10 billion VND.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Ky - Director of Do Luong Policy Bank said: Total loan turnover for students up to this point has reached 236,975.4 million VND with 8,494 households with outstanding loans. Entering the beginning of the 2011 - 2012 school year, Do Luong Policy Bank has advised the Board of Directors, the District People's Committee, 33 communes and towns to organize the evaluation for families, to borrow capital according to regulations, quickly completing the disbursement right from the beginning of the school year so that students have money to pay tuition and cover living expenses. In the second semester of the 2011 - 2012 school year alone, the bank promptly disbursed nearly 34 billion VND, lending to 6,451 students.

In order for this program to have the true humanistic meaning and deep concern of the Government, local authorities and all levels and sectors need to enhance responsibility in policy dissemination to the people, organize democratic and public evaluation, and ensure the rights of poor students who are eligible for loans.

Van Truong