The Principal Secretary (PS) for Higher Education Beatrice Inyangala has revealed that the ministry of education has sent chiefs to villages to collect information on students.
According to the PS, the move was necessitated by appeals from over 12,000 students who were uncomfortable with the bands they have been placed in under the new university funding model.
Therefore, the Ministry of Education has sent the chiefs to seek more information about the students, to facilitate decision making on the amount of funding to give the students.
Additionally, the PS said that although the students were uncomfortable about their household contribution, it is either Ksh5,000 or Ksh30,000 for Band 1.
“We have about 12,000 students who have lodged their appeals. Most of them are uncomfortable about their household contribution whether it is Ksh5,000 or Ksh30,000 which is the highest contribution for band 1.
“We did send the chiefs to the villages to help us collect further information because we are trying to validate and triangulate the information that we have on record as well as the reasons that the students gave for appeal and the evidence on the ground,” she stated.
Also Read: HELB Outlines Process of Appealing for Scholarship Category Change
Why Students Were Placed in Wrong Bands
At the same time, PS Beatrice Inyangala said that some students found themselves overwhelmed by the expected contributions because they failed to issue adequate information to allow the Ministry to place them in the right bands.
In addition, she said that some students failed to disclose that they had been sponsored through their high school education.
“A few also have stated that they were sponsored in high school, and that information had not come through before. We have a team working on that data and by next week we will start getting the results,” she added.
This comes at a time when reports of several needy students being left out of the new funding model, has caused uproar among students and stakeholders.
Also Read: Revealed: How Much Pocket Money University Students Will Get from HELB
Education CS on Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Disbursement and Chiefs
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba in a statement on August 23 stated that the application portal for appeals will remain open until 31st December 2024, to allow for late appeals.
Ogamba maintained that the funds are now being disbursed to the respective university and student accounts, upon ascertainment of students’ reporting and admission, with the disbursement process set to be completed by 30th August 2024.
“The re-categorization will rely on the accuracy of the information provided regarding an applicant’s socio-economic background; affirmative action considerations; socio-demographic factors; and family education expenses.”
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