19:30, 19 March 2009 | GMT +5
Kazakh PM urges to launch preferential student loan program
ASTANA. March 19. KAZINFORM. /Bauyrzhan Mukanov/ Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov charged Minister of Education and Science Zhanseit Tuimebayev to launch preferential lending program for students till March 24.
According to Z. Tuimebayev, to date 1, 420 students from 62 higher educational institutions have applied for soft loans. March 1 the Ministry of Education and Science jointly with Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund announced opening of a preferential lending facility for the students of technical and medical universities. The lending period is 15 years. The interest rate is 9%. The loan is subject to repayment after graduation.
In whole KZT 15 billion were budgeted for student loans. The country counts over 633, 000 students.