Ref: PR/AF/018/20 Date: December 11, 2020
On Monday, 30th November 2020, Africa Federation held a soft launch of the now completed Education Loan Portal, in attendance were Alhaj Aunali Khalfan AFED Vice Chairman, Sayyeda bai Dhalla Education Board Vice Chair, Zaheerabbas bhai Hemani Project Analyst, Sajida bai Master Education Board Administrative Secretary, Hasnain bhai Sherally COO, AFED and Fazleabbas bhai Bhimani of Fabonic Ltd, the contractor.
The software has been developed by a local company owned and operated by Fazleabbas bhai Bhimani, the job was awarded to his company in January 2020 and the work began in March 2020. Zaheerabbas bhai and Sajida bai of Africa Federation played a key role in ensuring the software is up to par with the current systems and processes of the Federation in respect to Education Loans applications from students of our Jamaats in Africa all the way to completion of repayment of Loans by these students.
This is a comprehensive software that will increase efficiency at all levels for this process addressing the major concern students have had which is the lead time for the applications and the disbursement of funds in a timely manner.
A presentation was made by Fazleabbas bhai, the Chief Developer & Owner of Fabonic Ltd, on the features available for the different users of the Software i.e. the applicants, the Jamaat Education representatives, Education Board Admin, the career/education counselors, the Education Board members, AFED Treasury and Accounts department and how all these will be able to communicate from within the portal and have a completely electronic process.
Zaheerabbas bhai in his presentation outlined the benefits of this new software to the applicants, Jamaats and Africa Federation, with respect to the education loan programs the Federation operate:
- Full online process – applicants apply and upload documents online, Jamaat and counselors process online, Education Board approves and processes online, treasury receives information and disburses funds through the software.
- Cloud based software, operational year-round with no interruptions.
- Automatic updates and reminders to all the users.
- Automatic reminders for repayment
- Access to database of all students past and present
- Bespoke reporting as required.
- Financial and portfolio analysis
Alhaj Aunali Khalfan, AFED Vice Chairman congratulated the team on behalf of the Chairman and the fellow Office Bearers on achieving this milestone, he remarked that we have been working to bring this software to fruition for a very long time and the results now speak for themselves, this software will allow AFED to efficiently manage its Education Loan portfolio and ensure that the members of the community get the benefits through such developments which AFED have all along been conscious about and will continue to improve in its deliveries to the community at large.
All the Jamaats under Africa Federation shall be provided their login details and training on the usage of the software which has an instruction manual, applicants will also receive instructions and tutorial videos on how to use the software, which will be effective for use from 1st January 2021. The Education Board shall transit the entire Software during the year 2021.
For more information on the software or for any queries contact us on secretariat@africafederation.org
Secretariat