Long Wait for First Time HELB Applicants.
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has finished processing funding for learners who applied for college and university funding. However, the students will have to wait a little longer before they are able to receive the final verdict from the board.
According to HELB CEO, Charles Ringera, under the new funding model, the board has received 139,060 applications this year. The figures represent a deviation from the expected number of 140,107 students in various degree programs according to data from the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
Ringera indicates that the board has received preliminary information from applicants and is in the process of validating the data.
In addition, he highlights that the board has also received 109,798 applications from students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. As a result, the total number of new applications received by the board this year is 248,858.
After expiration of the application deadline, many students and parents are eagerly waiting for the outcome.
Read also: University Funding Application Deadline Extension
According to CEO of University Fund, Geoffrey Monari, the government had budgeted for a total of 155,814 students. However, currently the student number stands at 130,485 in public university to receive both loans and scholarships while 9,662 in private institutions will receive loans.
The HELB component will be responsible for awarding loans while the University Fund will be responsible for awarding scholarships.
According to Ringera, after the process is complete, students who are dissatisfied with the outcome will have an opportunity to appeal.
Last week, continuing students received loans amounting to Sh10.5 billion from HELB for their tuition and upkeep. The new funding model has no effect on continuing students and they will continue to receive funding under the old model.
Read also: HELB: Students and Institutions Receive Funds
Finally, according to education CS, the government has a high level of commitment in providing financing to both institutions of learning and students as well.
Long Wait for First Time HELB Applicants.