The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has issued an update to learners unable to access their website.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, HELB stated that the low speeds experienced by learners trying to access the website were being addressed and that the site would be back as soon as possible.
“Niaje Comrade. Applying for Higher Education Funding Via Portal- Usitense. The intermittently low speed on the Higher Education application portal is being addressed by our technical team. The portal is expected to be efficiently accessible as soon as possible,” HELB stated.
University students have remained stranded due to the confusion witnessed in the higher education funding model.
New admission letters
On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, President William Ruto directed that universities withdraw their admission letters previously mailed to students and issue fresh ones.
Speaking during a development tour of Kisii County, Ruto said that the new admission letters should reflect the actual fees the parents/guardians should pay and not the total cost of the course.
“The letters that our universities issued were misleading because they were talking about the cost of the courses. We want letters to be released and those that were released earlier to be withdrawn,” Ruto said.
“The proper letters should be issued with the right amount the parent is supposed to pay and not the cost of the course,” he added.
Ruto noted that while some admission letters had indicated that parents should part with Ksh200,000- Ksh300,000 in fee requirements, the government would finance up to 95 per cent of the total course funding requirement.
He said that the government had increased capitation to HELB from Ksh45 billion to Ksh82 billion to ensure students at the Technical and Vocational Education and Training centres, colleges and universities access loans.
New funding model
In a notice on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, HELB clarified the funding models, stating that for instance a student is enrolled in a bachelor of arts degree course with an annual cost of Ksh122,400, students in Band 1 will get a scholarship of up to 70 per cent, translating to Ksh86,680, and a tuition loan of Ksh30,600. this means that they will have to pay only Ksh6,120 per year, while the student is entitled to a Ksh60,000 upkeep.
In the same light, a student enrolled in the same course but on Band 5 will receive 30 per cent in scholarship, translating to Ksh36,720, a tuition loan of Ksh36,720 and pay 40 per cent of the fee requirement amounting to Ksh48,960 annually.
The student will also be eligible for a Ksh40,000 annual upkeep from the student loan body.
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