Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has instructed the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund (UF) to initiate the opening of the funding portal on June 15 for the 2023 KCSE students to commence their applications.

In a statement released on Friday, June 7, the CS revealed that the outcomes of the funding applications would be communicated to the applicants or their respective parents/guardians by July 31.

“I am directing the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund (UF) to commence the Higher Education Funding process on June 15, 2024, facilitating eligible students to apply for financial support. I want to inform all parents, guardians, and students that the results of the funding application process will be disseminated starting from July 31, 2024,” stated CS Machogu.

Additionally, Machogu indicated that first-year students should adhere to their admission letters and joining instructions when reporting to their respective institutions.

The CS emphasized that universities would inform students of their fee obligations once the government funding outcomes are finalized.

He emphasized the importance of universities and funding agencies in informing students and their guardians about the government’s new student-centered funding model, which evaluates each applicant’s level of need.

This directive follows the Ministry of Education’s instruction for all universities to retract admission letters issued to students who have yet to enroll in 2024 to adjust fee details.

During her appearance before the National Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday, June 4, Higher Education PS Dr. Beatrice Inyangala clarified that the figures on the admission letters had encompassed the entire fee, including government funding.

The Ministry of Education implemented the new funding model for first-year students enrolling in universities and TVET institutions in September 2023.