Universities directed to update student portals amid frustration over HELB delays
This comes even as most students reported that they have not received Helb funds released by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, leaving many struggling to settle tuition and upkeep charges.
Universities have been directed to provide correct fee information on student portals to prevent confusion as the new academic semester begins.
This comes even as most students reported that they have not received Helb funds released by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, leaving many struggling to settle tuition and upkeep charges.
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More than half of applicants have yet to receive tuition and upkeep allocations, raising concern among students and parents. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Education released Sh9.46 billion through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to support 309,178 university students nationwide. The disbursement includes Sh5.76 billion for tuition fees and Sh3.7 billion for student upkeep.
“Details say my tuition fee has been paid, but in the school portal, it hasn’t been reflected. I have benefited from HELB only twice. I deferred one of my learning years, but didn’t receive HELB. Now I’m joining my fourth year,” one student said.
“I applied for a subsequent loan using the HELB portal app, and it was successful and given a serial number. Yesterday I went to the portal, they said I haven’t applied for HELB,” another student added.
In response to the concerns, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba clarified that HELB funds are being released in phases, noting that students whose semesters begin in October may not immediately see the allocations reflected in their portals.
He, however, urged universities to ensure accurate information is uploaded on student portals to avert confusion at the start of the semester. The directive follows a fee discrepancy at the University of Nairobi (UoN), where new students logging into their portals ahead of registration were shocked to see demands of up to Sh50,000.
Ogamba explained that the issue arose because UoN prepared fee data for individual students on Friday, August 15, while the institution was set to reopen on Monday, August 18.
“As a result, the actual figures could not be uploaded over the weekend. Universities have been directed to upload the correct information for each student on their portal,” he said on Wednesday during the issuance of a Letter of Interim Authority to Consolata International University (CIU) at the Commission for University Education (CUE) offices.
The CS added that a team had been deployed to UoN and other universities to assist students in logging in and ensuring the necessary corrections are made. Universities are opening for the new semester between now and October.
The government recently reduced semester fees for students by between 15 and 40 per cent, meaning charges now range from Sh5,814 to Sh75,000 per semester, depending on the programme of study and categorisation.
The Ministry said a total of 201,695 first-year students and 257,530 Technical and Vocational Education and Training trainees will benefit from the reduced fees. The reductions, aimed at making higher education more affordable, take effect from September 1, 2025, and apply to both new and continuing students.
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