HELB Disburses Billions to Ease Student Costs
Helb intervention demonstrates just how critical financial support is in bridging the gap between educational ambition and economic necessity.
The CS also requested the students to log into their HELB accounts and confirm whether the money has been disbursed. Photo/ KBC Digital
By Juliet Jerotich
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has released Ksh 9.46 billion to help 309,178 university students pay tuition and living expenses in the new academic year. The money is opportune as students prepare to resume learning amid growing financial pressures.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba stated that the money has been allocated into two general categories. Ksh 5.76 billion will be used for tuition fees, and Ksh 3.7 billion will cater to the maintenance of the students. The funding is meant to reduce the heavy costs that typically weigh on the families and the students.
Ogamba said the release is proof of the government’s determination to make higher education more accessible. He explained that the state wishes to see all students, regardless of financial background, should be given an equal chance to pursue education. “The government remains committed to ensuring that no student is dropped out of school due to a lack of fees or maintenance,” he said.
The CS also requested the students to log into their HELB accounts and confirm whether the money has been disbursed. The students, through the portal, can view how much has been paid to their institutions and how much they can utilize personally. This exercise, he added, would avoid confusion and increase accountability.
The payment of the money will be prompt. The majority of parents and students have been grumbling about the rising cost of higher learning. Accommodation, food, transportation, and other expenses just keep on escalating, adding extra strains on the family. For most students, HELB loans continue to be the only way of staying in school.
With the new semester imminent, the disbursement is expected to provide relief. The universities will also be relieved since the payment of tuition fees will allow the learning programs to proceed without interruption. The government hopes that the early disbursement of funds will allow the students to focus on academics without the constant stress of financial uncertainty.
HELB’s intervention demonstrates just how critical financial support is in bridging the gap between educational ambition and economic necessity. For more than 309,000 beneficiaries, this support means a chance to continue working towards their dreams in classrooms all over the country.
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