127,591 university student loan applications processed, 12K complaints filed - CS Ogamba

The government has processed 127,591 student loan applications and categorised them under the five bands in the new controversial Higher Education Funding model.

The new model places students according to their financial needs. It is divided into five bands based on a family's economic status ranging from band one to band five.

In a statement to newsrooms on Friday, Education CS Julius Ogamba explained that the ministry is working round the clock to disburse the funds needed to facilitate the students by August 30, 2024.

He noted that so far, Ksh.5.2 billion has been released to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) for tuition and upkeep loans. Out of this, Ksh.2.8 billion has been released to the Universities Fund for scholarships.

"The funds are now being disbursed to the respective university and student accounts, upon ascertainment of students' reporting and admission," he said.

On the other hand, 12,598 students have lodged complaints and seek to be placed in different categories.

CS Ogamba said the ministry has begun reviewing the complaints and will conclude within three weeks from the date of each appeal.

Further, he confirmed that the deadline for applying for funding has been extended from August 15, 2024 to December 31, 2024 to allow for late appeals.

"To ensure that all applicants are categorised fairly and that no one is deprived of deserved funding, we are working with officers from the National Government Administration Office, in a multi-agency approach," he added.

"These officers will assist in verifying the information provided by applicants from their respective jurisdictions, across all the 106,600 villages in the country."

The CS appealed to the students to provide accurate information when filling in the applications to allow them be placed in the correct categories.