University students are struggling with capitation following delayed Higher Education Loans Board, HELB, Funding with the body yet to disburse cash from last semester’s batches.
Students depending on Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) for upkeep and tuition fees are staring at a bleak future, as the new semester commenced.
Capitation for university students was last semester not disbursed to most, following the contentious new funding model, which the high court eventually ruled unconstitutional and illegal.
Student leaders have now issued a stern warning, threatening to lead protests starting Wednesday, January 15th, if the government fails to address three critical issues.
Prioritized among the issues is the HELB Funds. According to the student leaders, University students have decried government’s laxity at release the crucial funds, which they depend on to pay tuition, rent and buy meals.
Speaking to JULISHA MEDIA on Tuesday, January 7, 2024, Brenda Mukami, a second year student at the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) revealed that last semester’s examinations have kicked off this week, but she will not be sitting for her papers over fees arrears.
” I expected HELB would disburse my Upkeep to back by December so that I could pay my fees balance and sit for exams this week, now I have to defer the semester all together.” She lamented.
On the other hand, Geoffrey Kagwe, a third year University of Nairobi (UoN) Student stated that his landlord has given him an ultimatum to pay his rent before 10th of January, which he had hoped to offset using his HELB Upkeep Funds.
” I will be going to the streets to join other comrades. Students from humble backgrounds are struggling over delayed funds and education is our only way out of poverty. My parents depend on casual labour, which is not guaranteed to support me and my siblings, HELB is crippling my chances at a brighter future” said Kagwe.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, December 20, Justice Chacha Mwita ruled that the new University funding model was discriminatory to students.
The judge opined that in the new funding model, the burden of funding the university and colleges had been passed to the parents.
Additionally, the judge noted that no public participation was conducted before the model was rolled out.
“It should have been subjected to the public so that the public comments before its implementation,” the judge ruled.
Concern was also raised over the various classifications/ bands used in determining the money to be allocated to students by the government.
“The petitioner further aver that the Funding Model discriminates against millions of students who are subjected to arbitrary classifications that are not based on merit or qualification, but on the financial ability of the students,” read the statement in part.
“The petitioner aver that these classifications will lead to many deserving students being unable to apply for funding if they do not fit in the narrow categories that the new model sets out.”
University Students in Kenya have been struggling to pay their Tuition Fees following the Introduction of the New Funding Model.
Reports indicate 50,000 university students across the country have been on the blink of dropping out of Higher Learning institutions, with other’s unable to enroll over the Household Fees required.
The new Higher Education Funding Model (HEF) was recently introduced by the Ministry of Education, as part of an effort to streamline financial support for students.
The Model, was Aimed at creating a more equitable distribution of funds, the model was designed to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and ensure that financial aid reaches those who need it most.
However, its rollout was met with significant criticism, as many students are finding themselves either ineligible for financial aid or experiencing delays in the disbursement of funds.
HELB, Higher Education Loans Board, has been issuing Kenyan University students upkeep loans, based on how needy their families are, according to the New University Funding Model.
Students joining Public Universities and Categorized as the Most Needy, depending on their families income, under the new model, would receive HELB upkeep loans amounts of UpTo Ksh 60,000 per Academic year.
The new funding model was grouped into five bands depending on the family’s income level.
The band any student belongs to depends on the amount the applicant placed as family income while applying for a scholarship.
Band One, the most needy group, consists of a family whose income is not beyond Sh5,995.
Under this category, the government scholarship would cover 70 per cent of the fees while the loan covers 25 per cent, making the total support 95 per cent.
The family would pay 5 per cent of the fees and the student receive an upkeep loan from Helb of Sh60,000.
In Band Two, the government grouped families whose income does not surpass Sh23,670 but is above Sh5,995.
In this category, the government scholarship covers 60 per cent while the loan covers 30 per cent.
The family pays 10 per cent of the fees. Under this category, the student would receive an upkeep loan of Sh55,000.
In Band Three, the government classified families whose family income does not pass Sh70,000 but it is above Sh23,670.
In this category, the government scholarship covers 50 per cent, while the loan will cover 30 per cent.
The family will contribute 20 per cent of the fees supposed to be paid. Students in the category will receive an upkeep loan of Sh50,000.
In Band Four, the government grouped families whose income does not exceed Sh120,000 but is above Sh70,000.
In this group, the government scholarship would cover 40 per cent while the loan covers 30 per cent.
The family pays 30 per cent of the fees.
In Band 5, the government grouped families which earn more than Sh120,000. In this category, government scholarship pays 30 per cent of fees.
They receive 30 per cent of the fees as a loan while their families will be required to pay 40 per cent of the fees.
Followed by Hiked University Tuition Fees, The financial strain has forced some students to consider dropping out of their programs, effectively jeopardizing their long-term career prospects. University Students from low-income backgrounds are particularly affected, as they often rely heavily on financial assistance to pursue higher education.
Meanwhile, Lecturers in the country have given the government a two-week ultimatum from January 1st, 2025, in yet another looming strike action by the dons.
The lecturer’s body, University Academic Staff Union (UASU) wants the government to pay December salaries, according to the agreed terms, alongside all arrears from September, failure to which they’ll proceed on strike on January 15th, 2025.
UASU Organizing Secretary Onesmus Mutio expressed the union’s disappointment over the government’s failure to honor its commitments.
“The government did not honor the return-to-work formula and therefore we were forced to go back on strike in November 2024. We agreed that the new salaries for university lecturers would be implemented in December and that we would also receive arrears for October and November,” said Mutio.
In December 2024, the lecturers received their salaries without any increment despite a directive by Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala to pay salaries and increments agreed upon by the two parties.
The directive was meant to align with the 2021-2025 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
“We saw a circular from the PS (Beatrice Inyangala) directing the universities to prepare to pay the new salaries in December but again as the university dons went for Christmas without the new salary as expected,” added Mutio.
Mutio lamented that the government has refused to keep its word twice, further calling on the Education CS Julius Ogamba to resign for failing to implement the payments.
“How can you promise dons that you are going you pay them then go back to your office and continue business as usual?” posed Mutio.
The dons’ ultimatum, if effected, would be the first strike action by lecturers in the year 2025.
Students in Public Universities across the East African Country, spent over a month last semester, without setting Foot in class following the employees Industrial Action. As Campuses went on the Christmas Break, Students were yet to sit their end of Semester Exams.
