University students have nine days to apply for HELB

University students demonstrate against the delayed HELB money at HELB offices, Anniversary Towers in Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

University students have nine days to apply for loans from the High Education Loans Board (HELB), Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUUPS) Chief Executive Officer John Oluoch said.

Mr Oluoch said the deadline for students placed in universities to apply for the HELB is August 27.

"Students placed in university must apply for the loan from HELB before August 27. Those who fail to apply will not be considered later," said Oluoch.

He said all students who sat their Kenya Certificate School Examination (KCSE) between 2000 and 2022 qualify for placement in technical colleges and can apply for courses of their choice.

Addressing over 300 principals of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVETs) in Mombasa, Oluoch said no student will be discriminated against based on the year they did the KCSE exam.

The principals had raised concerns over the government's policy directing TVET institutions to admit even those who sat KCSE more than 20 years ago.

"Since KUUPs had placed the student in the institution who are also qualified for HELB you should just assist them to join the college as that was their right," Oluoch said.

Oluoch clarified that KUUPs should place students who did KCSE in the year 2000 in universities because universities had a timeline for the students to join it.

He advised students who missed out on the recent placement to wait for another circle. He said the date when the placement portal will be opened is yet to be decided.

The KUUPs boss advised the principals to help the students who had gone to the institution for any course to make such students commit by paying KUUPs application fees which stand at Sh1,500.

He said the applicants have to pay the amount which KUUPs used in facilitation for their placement when the portal is opened.

Oluoch said this after some principals complained that there has been an overwhelming response of the students walking in for admission without passing through KUUPs.

He said if such students wanted it used to be considered for a government education loan they have no choice but to go through KUUPs to facilitate their being in the system to qualify for the education loan.

During the workshop, it was agreed that every institution should ensure the transformation to more practical industries, which should be at the center of the training of the students.