The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Charles Ringera has revealed that only 4000 students have requested loans through the recently launched Higher Education Financing (HEF) site.
During an interview on Wednesday, Ringera asserted that the government has put the appropriate protections in place to ensure that no student is turned away from the funding program.
“We are ready and have organized ourselves in putting appropriate measures for students who want to secure and apply loans at HELB,” Ringera said.
The scholarships and loans only apply to 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates joining universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETs).
Over 45,000 university students and 42,000 TVET students categorized as vulnerable and extremely needy will be fully funded with government scholarships and loans.
The Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, announced during the portal’s launch that underprivileged students would finally have equal access to higher education and TVET programs as they wouldn’t have to pay anything for the program’s expenses.
Students only have until August 27, 2023 to apply for scholarships and loans before the window closes but the HELB boss assured Kenyans that the remaining time will be enough.
“Time is not a problem because we are using a technology known as Artificial Intelligence and the remaining is enough for us to have processed the application forms from students,” Ringera said.
Applicants are reminded that the platform will require them to provide vital documents including their Identity Cards (IDs) as well as those of their parents or guardians, and admission papers from the institutions in which they are to be absorbed.
According to CEO Ringera, the government will disburse the funds the first week that students will be expected to report to their respective institutions.
In the budget for the preceding fiscal year, HELB’s funding was increased from Ksh15 billion to Ksh30 billion in 2023–24.
By Thuita Jaswant
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