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moe.gov.tt Higher Education Loan Programme HELP : Ministry of Education Trinidad and Tobago

Organization : Ministry of Education
Facility : The Higher Education Loan Programme HELP
Applicable For : Below Age of 50
Country : Trinidad and Tobago
Website : https://www.moe.gov.tt/

MOE Higher Education Loan Programme

The Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) is available to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago under 50 years of age who have been accepted and are enrolled in a tertiary level programme within CARICOM.

Related / Similar Facility : Trinidad & Tobago Student Permit Application

The applicant must complete a HELP Application Form. The loan is available to part-time or full-time, employed or unemployed students.

Criteria For HELP Loans

** Applicants should be citizens of Trinidad and Tobago under 50 years of age. Applicants who do not meet the age criterion may be given special consideration.

** Applicants must be accepted and enrolled in a tertiary level programme in any of the public sector tertiary institutions or approved private tertiary institutions in Trinidad and Tobago or accredited tertiary institutions within CARICOM.

** Applicants must submit a certificate of good health issued by a competent authority.

** Applicants must provide three (3) referees acceptable to the financial agent and the Funding and Grants Administration Division. These referees must be resident nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, employed, of good character, and under 55 years old.

Objective of MOE Higher Education Loan

The objectives of the HELP programmme are :
** To provide financial assistance to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago pursuing tertiary education, thereby expanding equitable access to tertiary education
** To provide a low interest loan facility, approved and disbursed effectively and efficiently within a reasonable time frame to students in need
** To assist with increasing the national participatory rate in tertiary education to 60% by 2015
** To develop a well educated, qualified cadre of citizens within identified areas of national development.

Benefits of MOE Higher Education Loan

Students can apply to borrow up to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per year for three years if they are pursuing a programme in Trinidad and Tobago.

Students who are pursuing qualifications in any of the regional campuses of the University of the West Indies or St. George’s, Grenada can access up to $75,000.

HELP funds will be disbursed for recognized programmes of study that lead to the award of any of the following
** Diploma
** Associate Degree
** Bachelor’s Degree
** Postgraduate Diploma
** Professional Qualifications (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, etc)
** Master’s Degree

Contact Information :
Funding and Grants Administration Division
#16 Warner Street,
St. Augustine
Tel: (868) 800-GATE (4283)
Email: helploans@gov.tt

Information For Parents

Registration of children at all Government/Government Assisted takes during the Easter Vacation. Parents/Guardians who would like to enroll their child/children at one of our ECCE Centres are encouraged to visit the nearest ECCE Centre in your area during this time.

Registration takes a 3 pronged approach :
** Application
** Enrolment
** Orientation

During the registration period, Parents/Guardians would be asked to fill an Application Form at the centre, after which they would be notified within 1 month whether their application was accepted or not based on the criteria and availability of space.

Once accepted, parents will return to the ECCE Centre on an identified date to complete the orientation and the enrolment process.

Documents Needed for Registration :
** Computerized Birth Certificate
** One (1) Utility Bill (for verification of address)
** Two (2) Passport Photos of the Child
** Photo ID of Parents

Criteria for Selection :
** Child must be between ages 3 â€“ 4 years old.
** hild must be toilet trained.
** Fully immunized.

Additional Information upon Enrolment :
Parents of children with Special Needs are required to have an Assessment done on the child by the relevant authorities and the report submitted to the ECCE centre. Documents outlining legal custody arrangements where applicable.

Additional Simplified Procedure

To apply for the MOE Higher Education Loan in Trinidad and Tobago, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
** Be a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.
** Have a continued period of residency of at least three (3) years prior to application.
** Be enrolled in a full-time tertiary education programme at an approved institution.
** Have a household income of no more than $75,000 per month.

Once you have met the eligibility criteria, you can apply for the loan by submitting the following documents to the Funding and Grants Administration Division (FGAD) of the Ministry of Education:
** Completed application form.
** Copy of your birth certificate.
** Copy of your passport.
** Copy of your Tertiary Education Certificate (TEC).
** Copy of your parents’ or guardians’ income tax returns for the previous year.
** Copy of your school acceptance letter.

Note:
The application form can be downloaded from the FGAD website: https://www.moe.gov.tt/help-framework/. The application deadline is usually in March of each year. However, it is advisable to apply early as the number of loans available is limited. If your application is approved, you will be required to sign a loan agreement and make monthly repayments. The interest rate on the loan is 6% per annum. You can start repaying the loan after you have completed your studies and are gainfully employed.

Here are some additional things to keep in mind when applying for the MOE Higher Education Loan:
** You can only apply for one loan per academic year.
** The loan amount is limited to the cost of tuition and other approved expenses.
** You must maintain a satisfactory academic standing in order to continue receiving the loan.
** If you default on your loan payments, you may be subject to penalties and interest charges.

Author : Anusha