The National Assembly Committee on Education and Research reviewed a proposal pushing for the review of the age limit for receiving the Higher Education Loans (HELB).
According to a statement from the committee, the proposal seeks to do away with the age restriction for applicants.
Instead, the proposal, detailed in the Higher Education Loans Board (Amendment) Bill, 2022, seeks to allow students below 18 years to access financing for their education.
The bill is sponsored by Machakos Women Representative Joyce Kamene.
“The Higher Education Loans Board (Amendment) Bill, 2022 seeks to remove the age restriction for applicants of HELB loans, allowing students below 18 to access financing for their education.
“This change would require such students to have their parents or guardians co-sign the loan agreement,” the statement from the committee read in part.
Also Read: HELB Extends Deadline for First Time Loan Applications
Current Qualifications for Applying for HELB
Under current regulations, students must be at least 18 years old and possess national ID to qualify for a Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loan.
Aside from the ID, the students are required to submit a valid telephone number registered in the student’s name, a valid email address and a passport size photo.
Additionally, applicants are required to submit their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) index numbers and year of examination, a college or University admission letter and their parents’ registered telephone number.
Other requirements include the parents’ national ID number, a death certificate if any of the parent is deceased, the applicant’s birth certificate, two guarantors’ (Can be parents) ID numbers and registered telephone numbers and a Copy of the sponsorship letter if the applicant was sponsored in high school.
Also Read: HELB Responds to Website Hacking Reports
Magoha, Machogu on Underage Application
In May 2023, the government unveiled a new funding model that was meant to ensure students facing financial hardships were not required to pay any fees to colleges and universities including their upkeep.
Following the launch of the new model, the cabinet waivered the ID card requirement for the 2022 KCSE candidates applying for the HELB loan.
The Ministry of Education, jointly with all stakeholders were directed to fast-track access to scholarships for all eligible students to ensure that no needy student was left behind.
“The Ministry has accordingly directed the Higher Education Loan Board (HELB) to review its portal to ensure all the 2,000 students yet to attain the age of 18 to apply for HELB loans,” Education CS Machogu announced after the cabinet dispatch.
However, in 2021, former Education Cabinet Secretary the late Prof. George Magoha insisted that students applying for the loan ought to be above 18 years arguing that it was vital for the recovery of the loans.
This was in spite of announcing that students below the age of 16 years had done exceptionally well in the 2020 examinations.
“The law of contract constrains persons under the age of 18 from entering in a contractual agreement, including loan agreements.
“This poses a risk of non-recovery of loans disbursed to minors as disputes may arise on account of contravening provisions of Law of Contract Act,” Magoha then indicated.
The Committee on Education and Research is expected to table a report in the National Assembly.
