Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer

The Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB), is soon to roll out a new system for providing grants to needy tertiary students.

The SLB’s acting executive director, Monica Brown, made the disclosure at today’s sitting of Parliament's Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).

The SLB was before the committee to respond to queries made by committee members regarding savings made on money allocated for grants for needy students.

Brown said with assistance from the Planning Institute of Jamaica, the agency has developed a new Beneficiary Identification System.

She explained that under this new system certain students will be automatically selected for grants.

Meanwhile, responding to a query for the SLB to give grants to non-applicants, the SLB head said the bureau would need a serious injection of cash for this move to be pursued.

Brown said it would take about $1.7 to $2 billion to provide grants to all tertiary students.

radio@gleanerjm.com