Varsity students can use birth certificates for loans application
Varsity students can use birth certificates for loans application
Varsity students can use birth certificates for loans application
Students at universities can now use their birth certificates when applying for loans and scholarships even if they do not have national identity cards.
Charles Ringera, the chief executive of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), stated that birth certificates are being used in cases where national identity cards (ID) are not issued promptly.
“As we are addressing their requests, there haven’t been any significant problems up to this point. It was unclear to the public if the new identity card would be accepted. He clarified, “There is also the problem of the delay in ID card issuing, but we are okay because we brought in the issue of birth certificate.
The head of Helb talked while some students expressed worry about the challenge of applying for loans using KCSE index numbers.
In accordance with the new higher education funding (HEF) model, scholarships are only available to applicants who took the KCSE exam in 2022.
Students need to have a working email address, a phone number registered in their name, their KCPE and KCSE index numbers, and the year of their exam in order to apply for a loan.
In order to apply for a loan, students must also provide a copy of their national identification card; however, those who do not have this can still use their birth certificate, admittance letter from college or university, parent/guardian ID number, and registered phone number.
In the event that the student received secondary school support, a copy of the sponsorship letter is also necessary.
The HEF application period for new applicants for September began on June 17 and will continue through the end of July.
Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) students are encouraged to apply, and Ringera stated that the process is proceeding as planned.
He stated that as the new academic year gets underway in September, first-year student reimbursement will take place.
“The national opening day of first years is the second week of September. We have not opened applications for subsequent students, but we will open, now they are away at home,” said Ringera.
At least 201,146 or 22.5 per cent of students who sat the 2023 KCSE attained a mean grade of C+. These students met the minimum requirement for placement to degree programmes.
Another 694,086 or 77.5 per cent attained mean grades of between C and E and were eligible for placement to Diploma, Craft and Artisan programmes in TVET institutions.
According to KUCCPS, 85 per cent of C+ and above made applications where 76.2 per cent opted for degree courses and the rest, about 11,991 opted for diploma.
The applicants are required to open bank accounts for upkeep payments where applicable and the bank account should be registered and fully operated by the student.
The funding model, which replaced Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) previously used to finance universities de-linked placement from funding and now focuses on students’ financial need.
Starting with the last year’s class, the Government indicated that universities and TVETs would no longer receive block funding in the form of capitation but will be done through scholarships, loans and household contributions.
The Universities Fund is to provide scholarships to students ranging from 30 per cent to 70 per cent depending on level of need while the deficit will be met through household contributions and loans.
In a similar vein, Helb will contribute extra funds in the form of loans, which will pay for between 25% and 30% of the costs.
Students must submit an official application through the HEF site in order to be eligible for the loans and scholarships. The Means Testing Instrument (MTI) tool will be utilized to assess the students’ financial need.
Universities Fund, Helb, KUCCPS, and the State Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training collaborate to implement the HEF concept.
Universities Fund offers student grants, Helb offers loans, and KUCCPS connects graduates of the KCSE with postsecondary education institutions.
The new model divides money into student need categories, with the most vulnerable and in need of assistance receiving at least 95% of government support.
Students should receive 71% of their funding from scholarships, 25% from loans, and 5% from their households for band one funding.
Additionally, band two recipients will receive 60% from scholarships, 30% from loans, and 10% from their households.
Three-band students will receive twenty percent from households, thirty percent from loans, and fifty percent from scholarships.
In year four, students will receive thirty percent loan money, thirty percent from households, and forty percent from scholarships.
Applicants in the fifth band will get 40% from families, 30% from loans, and 30% from scholarships.
Loans are only available to those who want to attend private institutions, as well as public universities as module two or self-sponsored students.
