The legislator cautioned that although borrowing may provide an opportunity for students who cannot afford the cost of education, the repayment obligations could eventually make it difficult for them to improve their financial circumstances.
Speaking on Thursday, November 12, 2026, Kaguchia questioned the long-term impact of relying on loans to finance education, particularly for students from households that are already struggling financially.
He explained that students who depend on borrowed money to progress through the education system could spend between 15 and 25 years clearing their debts, depending on the amount required to finance their studies.
According to the MP, such a lengthy repayment period could deny young graduates the financial freedom they need to establish themselves after leaving school.
Rather than using their earnings to start businesses, invest in property or support their families, some graduates could find themselves dedicating a significant portion of their income to servicing education debts.
Kaguchia warned that the situation could have wider consequences for economic equality, especially if students from wealthy backgrounds continue accessing education without facing similar financial pressures.
“But for those who really can’t afford and must go through the school system. They will be loaned and they will pay through the nose and they will pay for the next 25 years, the next 20 years, the next 15 years, depending on the cost you are taking,” he said.
The Mukurwe-ini legislator further argued that prolonged indebtedness could make it harder for graduates from disadvantaged families to move forward economically.
He expressed concern that instead of helping poor households escape poverty, the cost of financing education through loans could leave them facing additional financial difficulties for years.
“And that will then mean you will remain indebted, hard capped, and completely constrained from progress. And that will make poor people poorer and rich people richer. And then it will continue to increase the gap between the poor and the rich in this country,” Kaguchia added.
His remarks have drawn attention to the affordability of education and the long-term financial consequences of borrowing to pursue academic opportunities.
The concerns also raise questions about how students from low-income households can access education without carrying heavy financial obligations into their working lives.
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