By Washington Okella
University and College students who submitted their applications in the Financial Year 2019/2020 will benefit from Sh11 million courtesy of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
The same will apply to recipients of Afya Education Fund which targets students pursuing nursing and clinical medicine at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
Addressing participants during the Teso South University and College Students Association Special General Meeting in Lukolis, Teso South Sub County recently, the Chief Officer Education and Vocational Training, Daniel Mogoria said the move to implement suspended applications in the preceding financial year was historic.
“This followed successful talks between officials from the department led by Education Executive, Prof Grephas Opata and HELB Chief Executive Officer Charles Ringera”, he said.
Mr Mogoria added: “Busia County Education Support Committee has agreed that the new HELB applicants will submit their applications after July 1st, 2021.”
He noted that the Afya Education Fund which is the brainchild of Governor Sospeter Ojaamong will also see applicants for FY 2019/2020 given leeway with Sh2.5m to be released anytime.
The first beneficiaries of the Afya Education Fund were paid between Sh40, 000 and Sh45, 000.
Mogoria said besides the two funds –HELB and Afya Education Fund, the county is also offering scholarships to three students picked from each of the 35 wards to undertake specialized courses including Medicine, Engineering and Law to boost the number of qualified professionals in the fields.
“In the first interviews we undertook as a department only 64 students out of 105 who met the threshold. We expect to fill the number once we issue forms to new applicants from 1st May,” he stated.
