It Worked for Me!
Shirley Rawlins is a successful graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus in Barbados. She acquired a Bachelors of Education in Curriculum Development (specialty in Mathematics), with Upper-Second Class Honours. When Rawlins, currently a teacher at the Milton Lynch Primary School, decided to upgrade her qualifications, it was the Student Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF) that she considered to facilitate her three year endeavor at UWI.
Studying locally or abroad requires a financial investment. Many students and potential students seeking to advance their education and pursue specific careers are faced with the dilemma of financial support. The services offered by the SRLF can make those dreams a reality.
Mrs. Rawlins found it more feasible to use the SRLF to facilitate her studies. When compared to a bank loan, she thought it (SRLF) was the better option. She commended the overall scheme of the SRLF for its flexibility and low interest rates - a greater incentive being the grace period of one year. “The repayment time for the bank is a lot shorter; you don’t have the opportunity or time SRLF grants you to reorganise yourself,” Mrs. Rawlins explained. She further stated that the funds were readily available, provided that you met the requirement of two sureties for SRLF.
“I enjoyed my time at the UWI. It was hectic, yes, but I had a good experience. It was a great program and the staff and tutors were accommodating. I met some very interesting people.” She urges students to work diligently and enjoy the experience. She also advises that it is more beneficial to start repaying the loan before the grace period is up, provided that your studies are completed and that you in a position to do so.
In response to whether she would recommend the SRLF to other students, Mrs. Rawlins said, “Yes! I have been recommending it to people. My experience with them (SRLF) was very positive.”