Education Ministry Worried as College Students Avoid HELB Loans

The Ministry of Education and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) are disturbed as it emerged that students from Middle-level colleges are avoiding HELB loans.

According to the Higher Education Loans Board, 43000 college students had applied for the loans in the previous academic year, but only about half of them have re-applied for the same this year.

HELB Chief Executive Officer Charles Ringera has expressed concern saying that upon admission to higher learning institutions, HELB has been allocating money to a large number of students but cannot tell what happens in the subsequent years.

“That students are slow in re-applying for the loans is a major blow to us. We are wondering where the students are and if they utilized the money well because that is a public resource,” said Mr. Ringera.

He further said that of the 98000 new students who applied through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), only 46000 have requested for HELB, while only 17980 diploma continuing students have sent their online HELBapplication.

The trend has compelled the ministry of education to urge principals of institutions to educate their students on government loans.

The ministry acknowledges that there has been a problem with HELBallocation previously, and has promised that every applicant will receive their money by the time institutions reopen in September.

“Continuing students’ applications will be verified and disbursement for tuition and upkeep (into their respective bank accounts) of Sh26,400 and Sh13,600, respectively, will be done ahead of their opening dates in September 2019,” said Mr. Ringera.

Ringera called on students to make their HELB applications and deliver the forms to Huduma Centres or Anniversary Towers in good time as the deadline has been extended to October 31, 2019.

HELB has set aside 10 billion shillings for student allocation, as it targets to fund a total of 171,600 students ahead of September Reopening dates.

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