VNA/Nhan Dan - By the end of June, the Government’s credit programme for poor students had provided over VND 5.29 trillion (over US$320 million) to 754,000 students.

Speaking at an online conference on the programme held on August 15, Deputy General Director of the Bank for Social Policies Nguyen Van Ly said the programme had received the response and support from the community after one year’s implementation.

By providing loans of VND 4 million/academic term for each beneficiary, the programme helped many poor students carry on their study despite financial difficulties.

However, a survey at 103 universities, colleges and vocational training schools showed that the credits could meet essential and study needs of only half of recipients.

Representatives from several localities suggested to raise the loans to VND 6 million per term per one in the situation of higher consumer prices.

Concluding the conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Education and Training Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan suggested several solutions to make the programme more effective.

He asked the authorised agencies and localities to check the lending criteria and objectives to ensure the loans come to needy people.

He also said that the Government would raise credit loan level to VND 1 million a month per student from current VND 800,000 a month per student. The decision on the level would have been given by August 20.

He affirmed that no shortage of loan capital was now given to pupils and students. The Government agreed that during the next 5 years, loans worth a total sum of USD 2 billion would be given to pupils and students.

The online conference to review one year’s implementation of the programme connected four cities of Hanoi, Can Tho, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City . It drew the participation of officials from relevant ministries, agencies, and all 63 provinces and cities nationwide. (VNA)