HELB Issues Fresh Notice To University Students Over Funding Model

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has issued a crucial announcement to university and college students across the country, offering them a new opportunity to raise their concerns regarding the government’s university funding model.

The announcement, made on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, comes in the wake of a recently concluded public participation process that was held following growing pressure from students and a court directive.

In its official notice, HELB, in collaboration with the Universities Fund (UF), revealed that it had opened a 21-day window during which students who feel aggrieved by the current funding model can submit their grievances and appeals directly to the board for consideration. The appeal period officially began on April 1, 2025, and will run until April 21, 2025.

“Following the successful abbreviated public participation, the stakeholder comments, memoranda, and feedback, the two State Corporations have improved the scholarship and loan appeals mechanism,” HELB stated in the notice.

HELB further clarified that students now have a dedicated online portal where they can lodge their appeals and submit their concerns, adding that this step was taken to ensure that every student’s voice is heard and considered.

“The appeals portal remains open for 21 days from April 1, 2025, to allow aggrieved students to provide their submissions,” the notice further indicated.

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This move by HELB and the Universities Fund comes after a lengthy legal battle surrounding the government’s university funding model, officially known as the Variable Scholarship Loan Funding Model.

The controversy reached the courts after numerous complaints emerged from students and other stakeholders, challenging the fairness and constitutionality of the model.

Initially, the High Court had ruled that the new funding model was unconstitutional. However, the government was given a temporary lifeline after the Court of Appeal suspended the High Court’s decision.

In its ruling, the Court of Appeal ordered HELB and UF to conduct a public participation exercise, giving students and other stakeholders a chance to voice their opinions, raise concerns, and suggest improvements.

The Variable Scholarship Loan Funding Model is a performance and needs-based model that categorizes students into five distinct financial bands, from Band 1 to Band 5. Band 1 represents students from the most vulnerable and financially disadvantaged backgrounds, while Band 5 represents students considered least in need of financial assistance.

Despite its intended purpose of ensuring that funding reaches those most in need, the model has attracted sharp criticism from students who claim that it discriminates against many deserving learners. Several university students have staged nationwide protests since its rollout, demanding a fairer funding structure.

In response to the court’s directive, HELB and the Universities Fund embarked on a four-day public participation exercise that began on April 1 and ended on April 4, 2025.

During this period, the two state agencies collected feedback from students, parents, and other stakeholders through both online platforms and physical forums held at various universities and technical institutions across the country.

According to HELB, the feedback gathered during this engagement was instrumental in enhancing the scholarship and loan appeals mechanism, with a key focus on making it more responsive to the unique circumstances of individual students.

Students were encouraged to submit memoranda, comments, and proposals, either in writing or through online portals. HELB has assured students that these submissions are being carefully reviewed and that the revised appeals mechanism aims to address many of the concerns raised during the exercise.

While the government has been allowed to continue implementing the Variable Scholarship Loan Funding Model for now, HELB has cautioned that the entire process remains subject to the ongoing court proceedings.

Depending on the final determination of the appeal currently before the courts, the funding model could undergo further changes in the future.

“As the Variable Scholarship Loan Funding Model is subject to an ongoing court appeal, the process may change in the future depending on the outcome of the appeal before the court,” HELB stated.

Meanwhile, students across the country are being urged to take advantage of the current 21-day appeals window to submit their grievances, clarifications, or complaints before the deadline lapses.

The coming weeks are expected to be critical in shaping the future of higher education funding in Kenya, as both HELB and UF work to balance the government’s vision of targeted funding with the need to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and transparency for all students.

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