Higher Education Loans Board seeks partnership with counties

By PATRICK MUTHURI

KENYA: Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) CEO Charles Ringera has called on county governments to partner with the institution.

He said counties should establish education funds to be channelled through Helb to enable it support more students.

Speaking in Meru, Mr Ringera said counties, corporate organisations and education foundations can channel the money through Helb, which it will lend to needy students and help to recover.

Education kitty

This, he said, will help bridge an existing gap in funding and assist those willing to fund students in institutions of higher learning manage the education kitty.

“Helb had requested Sh14.4 billion this financial year but the Treasury allocated Sh4.9 billion only. This is against a demand of Sh4.5 billion by students in universities and technical colleges,” he said.

“If we do not get alternative sources of funding, we may not be able to lend to 53,000 students, who are being admitted now,” said Ringera.

He further called on county governments to support the national government’s initiative to establish technical colleges in every constituency.

Unpaid loans

“There are over 40,000 students in tertiary colleges but this number should be increased. The country is experiencing acute shortage of technicians where for every ten engineers, there is only one technician. Helb will continue supporting these students to raise the number of technicians,” he added.

The CEO reiterated the board’s commitment in recovering unpaid loans, which he said amount to Sh8.33 billion held by over 75,000 loanees.

Ringera added that Helb has supported 375,000 students at a cost of Sh40.2 billion since its inception.