The Students Loan Bureau (SLB) has received an injection of $250 million from the HEART Trust/NTA to help with loans for tertiary students.

The money was handed over at a signing ceremony yesterday involving the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education.

The SLB had been facing a shortfall in its budget to cover the cost of loans to students for this academic year.

Finance Minister, Dr Peter Phillips, said the money will go towards students pursing certain studies.

The areas being giving special attention are Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

For his part, Chairman of the Board of the HEART Trust, Moses Peart, encouraged SLB beneficiaries to repay their loans.

Meanwhile, Education Minister, Ronald Thwaites disclosed that negotiations are ongoing between his ministry and the University of the West Indies regarding financial assistance to medical students.

Thwaites said some 140 medical students are in need of help.

He said the medical programme normally costs about $3.2 million per year and many students find it hard to pay for their studies.

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