The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has cautioned against a proposal to extend loans and scholarships to students in teacher training colleges (TTCs), warning that the move could strain its already overstretched resources unless backed by a dedicated budget.
The proposal, currently before Parliament, seeks to include TTC students in the national student financing framework. It recommends the creation of a ring-fenced budget under the State Department for Basic Education, to be administered by HELB, ensuring equitable access to financial aid across tertiary institutions.
HELB Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari said the board is already grappling with rising demand from university and TVET students, and adding TTCs without sector-specific funding could compromise support for existing beneficiaries.
“HELB supports expanding access to student loans, but this must be matched with sustainable financing. Without a dedicated budget for TTCs, we risk destabilizing the support system for current university and TVET students,” Monari stated.
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He proposed the establishment of sector-specific budget lines (SSBLs) or revolving funds managed by parent ministries to ensure TTC students receive support without jeopardizing others. This model, he said, would allow HELB to administer funds exclusively earmarked for TTC learners.
Currently, HELB disburses loans and bursaries to students in public universities and technical colleges using allocations from the State Departments for Higher Education and TVET. TTCs, medical colleges, and other specialized institutions remain outside this framework.
Monari noted that the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) places approximately 10,000 students in TTCs annually, with tuition averaging Ksh72,000 per student. Supporting one cohort would require Sh720 million, while funding all three years concurrently would push the requirement beyond Ksh2.1 billion.
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He warned that the figure could rise further as the government ramps up teacher training to meet the demands of the 100 per cent transition policy and the competency-based curriculum rollout.
“Expanding teacher training is essential, but it must be matched with sustainable financing mechanisms. Sector-based allocations would allow HELB to support TTC students without compromising its core mandate,” Monari emphasized.
The proposal has reignited debate over the exclusion of TTC students from HELB support, with stakeholders calling for parity in funding. Advocates argue that TTC students deserve equal access to financial aid.
By Masaki Enock
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