Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba has confirmed that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), has disbursed Ksh.1.56 billion to students and trainees for tuition and upkeep.
The CS said the government disbursed the funds last week, on Friday reiterating on the significance of the funds to both TVET trainees and university students.
“A total of 31,263 TVET trainees and 33,863 university students would benefit from these loan disbursements,” stated the CS.
According to CS Ogamba, the provision of this funding seeks to allow students and trainees to continue with their academic, training and research programmes without hindrance, while also ensuring that their personal needs are met.
He continued to encourage the students and trainees to confirm on their HELB portals especially for those that have not gotten notifications by means of SMS.
In the current Financial Year 2024/2025, HELB has so far disbursed a total of Ksh.32.7 billion for upkeep and tuition loans expected to benefit 195,522 trainees in TVET institutions and 390,612 students in universities.
Despite the growing controversies in the new University Funding Model, the CS encouraged learners in the Higher Education level to keep their faith in the government, adding that the Ministry works day and night to ensure the controversies are delt with.
The disbursement comes amid a push by some MPs and other stakeholders over the delay in the disbursement of HELB funds which had left thousands of students stranded financially.
However, the Ministry explained that the delay experienced in the disbursement is as a result of the ruling by the High Court made on December 20, 2024, which declared the new higher education funding model unconstitutional.
The ruling barred the implementation of the model until the government ensured compliance with constitutional and legal requirements.
