Golding Pledges to Make Student Loans More Attractive

President of the People’s National Party, PNP, Mark Golding, speaking at the party’s 86th annual conference at the National Arena in Kingston on Sunday September 15, 2024. (Image via the PNP/IG)

People’s National Party, PNP, president and opposition leader, Mark Golding, says should his party form the next government, it will expand access to tertiary education by making student loans more attractive to potential borrowers.

He made the proposal in his address at the PNP’s 86th annual conference on Sunday.

Currently, borrowers of the Student’s Loan Bureau, SLB, have fourteen months after the completion of their studies to begin repayment.

Mark Golding says under a PNP administration, loan repayments will be postponed without penalty if borrowers become unemployed.

The SLB website indicates that borrowers have the option of restructuring their loans if they fall into arrears. It says, however, that conditions apply to this arrangement.

And Mr Golding has also promised student loan debt forgiveness for teachers based on years of service.

Mark Golding, PNP president.