NMDS must make repayment easier

Every time the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS) is in the news, the focus is usually on debt collection. While recovering money is important, I believe there is another question we should be asking: Is NMDS making it easy enough for people to repay what they owe?

Many Basotho who benefited from government scholarship understand that the money was not a gift. It was an investment in their education. Paying it back helps another young Mosotho get the same opportunity. That responsibility should never be ignored.

At the same time, NMDS also has a responsibility to make the repayment process simple, clear and convenient.

In today’s digital world, there is no reason why beneficiaries should struggle to find out how much they owe. NMDS should have an online portal where every beneficiary can log in using their student number or national ID to see their outstanding balance, payment history and repayment options.

The portal should also allow instant Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and online card payments, especially for Basotho living outside the country. It should work with banks, mobile money services and other digital payment platforms so that people can pay wherever they are. Payments should reflect immediately on a beneficiary’s account.

Another issue is communication. Many people may not even know about the repayment incentives already offered by NMDS. For example, people who pay early can reduce what they eventually pay. There are also discounts for graduates who achieved merit or distinction. If more people knew about these benefits, more borrowers might choose to repay voluntarily.

NMDS should invest more in public awareness campaigns. Instead of only contacting people when it is time to collect money, it should regularly educate beneficiaries about their responsibilities, payment options and available incentives.

This is not about letting people escape their debts. Everyone who benefited from public funds should honour their obligation. However, collecting money becomes much easier when the system is simple, transparent and user-friendly.

At the end of the day, NMDS and beneficiaries want the same thing: a scholarship programme that continues to help future generations. That can only happen if people repay their loans and if NMDS makes it easier for them to do so.

Sometimes, the best way to recover more money is not by being tougher, it is by making it easier for people to pay.