State releases Sh30b for free secondary, loans
The government has released Sh30.5 billion to cover secondary school capitation and university students’ loans and scholarships.
Sh7 billion will cater for capitation for Junior Secondary while Sh16 billion will cover capitation grants under the Free Day Secondary School education programme.
“The funds are to be received in schools before they close for the April holidays next week,” the CS said in a statement.
At the higher education level, the Government has released Sh6.794 billion for loans towards the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) while Sh3.98 billion will be disbursed for scholarships through the Universities Fund.
This brings to Sh32 billion and Sh12 billion the total amount released by the Government for loans and scholarships respectively this Financial Year.
Sins of the past
In January, the Government released Sh14.4 billion to cover scholarships and loans for Government-sponsored First-Year students in universities under the new Higher Education Funding (HEF) model.
Loans also covered for semester two of the 2023/24 Academic Year for continuing students.
The CS also stated that in October last year, the Government disbursed Sh5.3 billion for student loans and a further Sh3.9 billion for scholarships for First Years under the new funding model and Sh10.3 billion was released to Helb in September last year to cater for continuing students loans in universities and TVETs.
Under the HEF model, the CS said Universities Fund will disburse money directly to individual universities for the successful candidates to cover their tuition fees.
On its part, Helb will disburse tuition loans directly to respective universities/colleges and upkeep loan to the respective student bank accounts or mobile phone numbers.
“Universities will receive the scholarship portions for their respective students. The categorisation of students was realised through a reliable scientific method, Means Testing Instrument (MTI), used to determine the student’s level of financial need, to ensure they are supported adequately,” the CS explained.
The HEF model applies to students who sat KCSE from the year 2022 going forward. Candidates who sat last year’s KCSE will form the second cohort of students to be funded under the new funding model once they join universities and Colleges later this year.
“Ministry of Education wishes to express the Government’s unwavering commitment to promoting access to university education and providing financial support to students, to ensure no one is left behind,” said Machogu.
