Govt Explains HELB’s High-Tech Solution for Identifying 45,000 Needy Students
The government has taken a significant step towards ensuring fair and efficient distribution of university funding for students in need.
On May 16th, the University Fund (UF) boss, Geoffrey Monari, and Beatrice Inyangala, the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Higher Education and Research, shared the details of the government’s new approach on Citizen TV.
This groundbreaking system aims to identify 45,000 deserving students who qualify for full university funding, while the remaining students will receive partial funding in the form of scholarships and loans.
One of the key features of this approach is the utilization of a scientific algorithm by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to assess the level of need.
“It will be hard for students to lie their level of need since HELB will use different databases for verification.
The algorithm will consider various factors and sources of information to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the evaluation process.
To prevent students from providing misleading information about their financial circumstances, HELB will cross-check the data provided with databases from institutions such as the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
This verification process will help determine if applicants have been truthful about their parents’ incomes.
Additionally, the government plans to link students’ Identity Card numbers to the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS).
“Currently we are exploring how the student’s details can be linked to the population census where various households had given their level of income,” he added.
This integration will enable authorities to assess the level of need by examining various databases, including information from the population census, where households have disclosed their income levels.
By incorporating these comprehensive datasets, the government aims to ensure that the selection process is fair and transparent.
The new funding model also considers the schools attended by the students and the courses they choose. Students who have self-sponsored their education at prestigious private schools will be regarded as having less need for full funding.
Furthermore, the income of the students’ parents will play a crucial role in determining the amount of funding they receive.
For example, a parent earning a monthly salary of Ksh70,000 with eight children would be given higher priority over a parent with the same income but only one child.
The government seeks to distribute resources equitably based on the level of need demonstrated by the students and their families.
This student-centered funding model aligns with the government’s commitment to promoting national priorities and the bottom-up economic agenda.
he courses chosen by students will be a determining factor in the level of support they receive.
Courses that contribute to the current national priorities, such as those that foster economic growth from the grassroots level, will be given greater financial backing.
President William Ruto introduced this new funding model on May 3rd, signaling a transformative shift in how university funding will be distributed.
Rather than providing block funding to all universities and TVETs, the government will now focus on funding individual students based on a graduated scale that combines scholarships, loans, and household contributions.
This targeted approach ensures that resources are allocated to those who genuinely require financial support, allowing for a more efficient and equitable distribution of funds.
Govt Explains HELB’s High-Tech Solution for Identifying 45,000 Needy Students