HELB Disburses Loans To Over 800K University, TVET Students
Wednesday, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) announced that it has begun distributing tuition loans to universities and TVET institutions.
In a statement sent to PoliticalPulseChat, the agency disclosed that it has disbursed loans to over 175,000 undergraduate students and over 700,000 TVET continuing students through their preferred payment channels, including bank accounts and mobile money wallets, under the Old Higher Education Funding model.
The scholars will receive the funds by October 5, 2023, according to HELB.
The funds are designated for students enrolled in degree, diploma, and certificate programs at universities and institutions of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The announcement by HELB came just days after students criticized the agency for failing to release funds on time, and in some cases, for failing to release the funds at all.
The government agency explained that they were unable to disburse funds to first-year applicants of the New Higher Education Funding Model because the application process was still ongoing.
ALSO READ:
- Ruto Changes Entry Points For Police Recruitment
- 4 Qualifications Needed To Apply For Green Card In Kenya
- Kenyan Government Denies Toxic Food Contamination Report
In addition, the agency disclosed that the deadline for first-time applicants under the new Higher Education Funding model is October 7.
This is consistent with the extension granted on September 5 by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.
“The processing and disbursement of their loans & their scholarships for both tuition and upkeep will follow shortly after the cut-off date on October 7, 2023,” HELB said in its statement.
Students from Multimedia University took to the streets of Rongai Town the day before HELB’s statement to protest the delayed disbursement of tuition funds.
Politicians from the opposition, led by the member of parliament for Embakasi East, Babu Owino, also criticized HELB for delayed disbursement.
“Move with speed and release the money to comrades in various universities. This money is very little and it is never sufficient and you are delaying it,” Owino regretted.
HELB Disburses Loans To Over 800K University, TVET Students