First-year University Students Asked To Apply For Helb

Students who are set to join universities and colleges in September can now apply for government study loans. The Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) has given the students until the end of September to send their applications.

However, the institutions the students have been admitted to must be recognised by the Commission for University Education and the Ministry of Education and must be registered with the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).

“Government-sponsored and self-sponsored students are entitled to apply,” said Helb Chief Executive Officer Charles Ringera.

About 100,000 students are set to join universities and colleges this year, with 67,790 joining 31 public universities, 12,000 going to colleges and 20,000 to private universities.

However, Mr Ringera said less than a half of the students will get the government study loans.

He said the amount of money the agency received is insufficient to support all needy students.

He said about 34,000 students out of the 100,000 will benefit from the loans.

Helb was allocated Sh7.5 billion this financial year, leaving a gap of about Sh2 billion. Of the total allocation, Sh6.3 billion is for continuing students and the remaining Sh1.2 billion is for first-year students.

Reference : www.nation.co.ke