Blow to KMTC Students as HELB lacks funds for their fees
Students at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) have been denied HELB loans due to a deficit in the budget.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba informed lawmakers that the current HELB framework did not allocate funding for KMTC students.
He clarified that not all educational institutions are directly governed by the Ministry of Education.
Some institutions, such as KMTC, receive their funding through other ministries like Health.
Ogamba was present before the National Assembly’s Education and Health Committees.
He disclosed that HELB had been allocated Sh84. 5 billion for this financial year.
Nevertheless, the board requires Sh138. 5 billion to support all qualifying students.
This results in a deficit exceeding Sh54 billion.
Ogamba stated that HELB distributes funds based on information from the institutions affiliated with his ministry.
Since KMTC is under the Ministry of Health, its requirements are not automatically incorporated into HELB’s planning processes.
He pointed out that KMTC received Sh1. 2 billion from HELB in the 2022/2023 financial year.
This funding was facilitated through resources provided by the Ministry of Health.
Before that period, KMTC had received support from USAID via HELB.
From 2014 to 2019, HELB allocated Sh468 million to KMTC students with support from USAID.
Ogamba emphasized that government policy aims to assist all students in higher education.
He remarked that collaboration among ministries is essential to ensure no student is overlooked.
The CS acknowledged that the current framework restricts HELB’s capacity to assist institutions outside his jurisdiction.
He encouraged Parliament to consider a more inclusive budget approach in future plans.
Ogamba further highlighted the importance of institutions providing precise data to enable appropriate funding distributions.
Lawmakers voiced concerns that KMTC students are being unduly excluded.
They urged immediate reforms to facilitate HELB funding for all public training institutions.
The CS reassured the committee that talks were ongoing to optimize the funding processes.
He advised institutions like KMTC to collaborate closely with the Treasury and pertinent ministries.
As funding shortages continue to grow, students continue to shoulder the consequences.
The future of inclusive higher education, MPs cautioned, relies on fair funding systems.
