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Ruto to Abolish HELB, set up Funding Body

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Ruto to Abolish HELB, set up Funding Body

Ruto to Abolish HELB, set up Funding Body

The state has promised Kenyans an improvement in the education sector.

President William Ruto has revealed that he has spent the last four months of his presidency laying the foundation for an education sector transformation.

Ruto pledged to eliminate HELB and TVET funding and establish a national skills and funding council to integrate the two levels to give a framework for credit transfer and facilitate academic progression.

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The National Education Fund will mobilize private and governmental grants, bursaries, and scholarships to pay non-tuition expenses.

“To bridge the current higher education funding gap of up to 45 percent, the government will establish the National Skill and Funding Council that amalgamates HELB, TVET, and University Funding Board.

This immediately doubles the present financing for the Higher Education Loans Board from Sh11 billion to Sh22 billion and eliminates loan interest.

While ringing in the New Year at State House in Mombasa, Ruto stated that the government aims to invest more money to revitalize the sector.

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Ruto stated that the suggestions of the Presidential Working Group would assist the administration in streamlining human capital and identifying and resolving problems in the education system.

“We know many universities are facing numerous challenges and significant debts as a result of the programme’s length. We will focus on ensuring our universities receive adequate attention to provide quality education.” 

In addition, he proposed establishing a public university and expanding the number of technical universities in the eight areas from three to eight.

Universities will be required to emphasize their comparative educational advantage.

“For example, the universities in Mombasa should have courses that focus on the blue economy while those in Turkana will focus on mining.”

Amendment to Increase HELB Funding

This comes as plans to introduce a bill and an amendment to enhance financing to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), and universities are underway.

Mwengi Mutuse, member of parliament (MP) for Kibwezi West West, wants the state to increase funding for student access to education.

Mutuse noted that the increased fees levied by various institutions in the country prevented some students from impoverished households from gaining access to tertiary and higher education, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions (ASALs).

“We will bring a Bill and an Amendment in parliament to enable HELB, Colleges and Universities to get enough funding from the national budget to ensure all our students get education, regardless of their economic status,” said Mutuse on Wednesday during the swearing in of Makueni University Students Association (MUSA) officials at Wote Social Hall.

“We need to set aside money for our students in public institutions to enable them access affordable education,” emphasized the MP.

Concerning housing, the representative said that he would ask the government to supply investors with land within public colleges to construct cheap housing, thereby ensuring the safety of students.

“We have many students studying engineering, medicine, education and law who reside in slums because there is inadequate accommodation in universities which compromises their security,” observed the legislator.

Mutuse also said he would launch an online application system for college and university students to apply for education bursaries from the National Government Constituency Fund (NGCDF).

“The digital system will facilitate students from higher learning institutions with easier application process for NGCDF bursaries at the comfort of their campuses,” he added.

In addition, he stated that scholarships for secondary students would be distributed at polling booths in the constituency, where parents would pick qualified kids.

Principal Secretary for Devolution Teresia Mbaika, speaking at the same event, advised students to use the internet and technology to engage in meaningful activities that create cash.

In addition, Mbaika urged the youth to engage in agri-business to secure an income and avoid relying on scarce white-collar jobs.

During the event, among other authorities, MUSA Chairman Peter Mwangangi, Secretary General Manson Munyao, and Finance Director Miriam Mumo were sworn in.

The organization brings together students from Makueni County who are enrolled in universities and national institutions for mentorships and career advancement.

Ruto to Abolish HELB, set up Funding Body

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