Africa-Press – Kenya. Yatta MP Robert Basil has urged the government to support the student loans board instead of aiding to cripple activities.
This he said as he urged President William Ruto to divert money sent to Hustler Fund to the students’ loans board.
“Instead of having Hustler Fund, they should have strengthened HELB so that the extra funds support needy students,” Basil said.
The lawmaker was speaking during a press conference on Thursday.
Young parliamentarians were reacting to the newly unveiled higher education funding model.
“The President needs to stand up and support HELB instead of killing it. He should not be misled that the new model will solve these problems,” he said.
On Wednesday, Ruto said the government will fully cater for the education costs of vulnerable and extremely needy students.
This category comprises 29 per cent of the student population joining university and TVETs this year through government scholarships, loans and bursaries.
“For the first time, students whose families are at the bottom of the pyramid shall enjoy equal opportunity in accessing university and TVET education. Their households shall not make any contribution towards the education of their children,” Ruto said.
Yatta lawmaker urged the president to spearhead sufficient funding to the loans board beginning the next financial year.
Basil said the board has been helpful to students from vulnerable families, as he reacted to the newly unveiled varsities funding model.
“During Moi days there was a boom and now we have HELB which is the only hope to so many students and parents,” he said.
Further Ruto outlined that sources of funding to universities will be generated from three sources.
“Funding to students shall combine scholarships, loans and household contributions on a graduated scale, scientifically determined by means testing instrument,” he said.
The President said the new model of funding will take effect at the beginning of the next financial year and will benefit the new cohort of 173,127 students that will be joining universities and 145,325 students who will be joining TVET institutions.
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