Machogu Gives University Students Boost After Releasing Ksh2.7B HELB Funds
President William Ruto had hinted at doing away with HELB, which has been the go-to funding for millions of university students for more than 10 years...
Marvin Chege 
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has directed all universities that have beneficiaries of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and bursaries to sit for their end-of-semester examinations.
Machogu stated on Friday, February 3 as he announced the disbursement of Ksh2.7 billion from the National Treasury to HELB to cater for 180,000 university students.
He further noted that the funds will help students in public and private universities who are preparing for their end-of-semester examinations to settle their fee arrears.
Kenyans at HELB offices. /PEOPLE DAILY
"The Ministry of Education is aware that the majority of Government-sponsored students in our public and private universities are preparing to sit their end-of-semester examinations for the 2022/2023 Academic Calendar.
"To enable the affected students to be registered with their respective universities ahead of the examinations, I wish to announce that The National Treasury and Economic Planning has released Ksh.2.7 billion for the student loans and bursaries for 180,000 legible students. The funds have been sent to the Higher Education Loans Board for further disbursement to legible students," Machogu stated.
The CS further gave the students hope of completing their semesters by ensuring that they will be allowed to register ahead of the exams.
“I, therefore, wish to assure all the affected students that they will be legible for registration ahead of the examinations. Further, I direct all universities to ensure that all beneficiaries of government loans and bursaries are given the opportunity to sit for their end-of-semester examinations as scheduled,” Machogu added.
Students had Earlier begun protesting outside the Treasury over delayed disbursement, lamenting that they would miss out on sitting for their end-of-semester examinations in the coming weeks, which would further hurt the chances of those in their fourth year, sitting for their final exams, to graduate.
HELB moved to issue an apology to them over the delay while urging them to be patient, as questions began arising on why the loan board had not disbursed the funds on time to their schools and accounts.
President William Ruto had hinted at doing away with HELB, which has been the go-to funding for millions of university students for more than 10 years and replacing it with a new funding alternative.
To improve the education system in the country, the government is planning to introduce National Skill and Funding Council (NSFC) which will be better than HELB and increase funding by 45 per cent. It will also absorb the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) funding.
“Instead of different funding systems, the government will establish the National Skill and Funding Council (NSFC) that will amalgamate the existing funding bodies,” Ruto announced during his New Year's message in Mombasa.
"The new body will double the current HELB funds from Ksh11 billion to Ksh22 billion."
The NSFC will also mobilize grants, bursaries, and scholarships from private and public sponsors to cover non-tuition costs for university students.
Moi University students carried out demonstrations in Eldoret in 2021 demanding the release of delayed loans from the Higher Education Loans Board. /THE STAR
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