The varsity funding application deadline extended
The application deadline for university students joining for the 2023-24 academic year to get funding has been extended.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu on Wednesday announced that the deadline has been moved from September 7 to October 7.
“The application period for loans and scholarships that was initially scheduled to lapse on September 7, 2023, has now been extended to October 7, 2023,” Machogu said.
The CS said the move is one of the measures the ministry is putting in place to ensure a 100 percent transition into varsities and TVETs.
Additionally, Machogu said the ministry has waived the requirement of a National ID for students who have not attained the age of 18 years to allow them to apply for Loans.
“The Ministry has accordingly directed the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) to review its portal to ensure all the 2,000 students yet to attain the age of 18 to apply for the loans,” the CS said.
Machogu said the University Fund and Higher Education Loans Board have been directed to put in place measures to commence immediate and speedy processing of scholarships and bursaries for all students who have already applied.
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Thereafter, the agencies will ensure the processing and disbursement exercise of scholarships and loans is conducted continuingly.
Machogu said universities have been directed to provide enough lead time for first-year students to report to their institutions to ensure none is locked out of joining campus.
“Where universities have already commenced admission of first years, measures must be in place to ensure students are not turned away for failure to pay school fees as the Government processes their funds applications,” Machogu said.
Further, the CS said the University Fund and Higher Education Loans Board must station their staff at all Huduma Centres countrywide to assist students in need of assistance regarding the application process for scholarships and loans.
“In the meantime, I wish to assure the country that no student will miss to join university because of failure to pay fees,” Machogu said.
Though the deadline has been extended, Machogu urged students to ensure they stick to the set timelines to allow for speedy processing of scholarships and bursaries since most universities are preparing to admit first-year students in September.
The varsity funding application deadline extended