HELB is set to open its portal for scholarship and loan applications today for both university and Technical and Vocational Training institution hopefuls. This follows an announcement by Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof. Ezekiel Machogu that it would begin on Monday, June 15.
Background Information
In its latest strategic plan for the 2023-27 period, the board has remained committed to ensuring financing through loans for all qualified students in recognized higher education institutions. The application portal was initially slated to open yesterday, Saturday, June 15. With the Eid ul-Adha celebrations happening yesterday, this had to be postponed. It was considered important that prospective applicants needed adequate time to prepare their applications for posting.
Higher Education Financing Portal Kicks Off
On 31st July 2023, CS Machogu launched the Higher Education Financing Portal. This is a platform where students can easily apply for scholarships, loans, and bursaries after getting admission letters. HEF is peculiar in the way it allocates higher education funds to students based on carefully profiled criteria.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility will be if students have been placed by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service, KUCCPS, to pursue undergraduate, diploma, craft certificate, or artisan courses in duly accredited public universities or TVET colleges in Kenya.
Government Funding Model
Early in the month, CS Machogu had directed that the scholarship and loans portal be opened in time to accord students, parents, or guardians enough time to apply for funding. This is to ensure no learner misses out on this opportunity.
With the current student-centered mode of funding, support from the government shall be through scholarships, loans, and contributions from parents/guardians.
The results are to be released at the end of next month for reviewing by parents and guardians to understand their allocated funds.
Conclusion
The opening of the HELB portal is a milestone in the realization of access to higher education for many students in Kenya. It will let students contribute accordingly towards their education through scholarship, loan, and bursary. The move by the government is intended to smoothen the journey to acquiring higher education for those seeking it, without necessarily feeling the pinch of lack of resources that might prevent them from reaching their academic potential. HELB Portal can be accessed from here: https://www.helb.co.ke/online-services/student-portal/.