This archive report was first published on 29 December 2019.
Published on December 29, 2019, a pressing issue has come to light in the higher education sector. The Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) has been enabling many needy students to access university education, but a major oversight has led to a significant number of underage students being denied access to these loans.
The loan award is a legal agreement between Helb and the recipient, who must have attained the age of majority, 18 years. However, this rule has been causing problems for students who are just a few weeks short of their 18th birthday but are locked out of the reliable government-subsidized loan scheme.
Some politicians have appealed to Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha to intervene and ensure that these underage students are not discriminated against. They want Helb regulations reviewed so that these younger students can also access the loans and join universities.
One possible solution is for parents or guardians to apply for loans on behalf of the underage students and transfer the legal responsibility to them as soon as they turn 18. This would allow the students to access the loans without being penalized for being underage.
As more younger people take the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam, it is essential that this matter is promptly addressed to ensure that all deserving students have access to higher education.
