No Loans for KMTC Students as HELB Faces Budget Breakdown.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba told the Parliamentary Committees on Education and Health that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) lacks the funds to offer financial assistance to students at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC). The reason cited was a shortfall in the budget allocated to the loans board.
Ogamba informed the lawmakers that, unlike university and other college students under the Ministry of Education, KMTC students have not been receiving HELB loans. He stated that HELB’s student funding estimates are drawn from data provided by institutions under the ministry’s purview and aligned with predetermined student numbers and the available budget.
He clarified that certain universities and training institutions, including KMTC, fall outside the Ministry of Education and instead operate under other ministries like the Ministry of Health. Therefore, their funding is processed differently.
He pointed out that HELB had received Kshs 84.5 billion in the current financial year, far short of the required Kshs 138.5 billion. According to Ogamba, HELB’s limited resources have made it difficult to cater to institutions not directly under the education ministry.
Historical HELB Support to KMTC
Ogamba further noted that KMTC had previously benefited from HELB support, receiving Kshs 1.2 billion in the 2022/2023 financial year. This funding was made possible through resources channeled by the Ministry of Health. Between 2014 and 2019, KMTC students received an additional Kshs 468 million through USAID-backed support.
He emphasized that the government supports higher education for all students, stating that funding must follow the function. He said the issue is not a matter of refusing to fund KMTC students but rather the persistent budgetary constraints that prevent comprehensive support across all institutions.
Addressing the same committee, KMTC CEO Kelly Oluoch expressed concerns about the institution’s exclusion from consistent HELB funding. He argued that this situation touches on constitutional principles, notably Article 27, which guarantees equality before the law.
Oluoch insisted that the government is constitutionally obligated to provide financial support to all students, regardless of their institution’s affiliation. He warned that HELB’s focus solely on Ministry of Education institutions might undermine equal access to education.
KMTC Students Struggle as Fees Deficit Grows
KMTC currently hosts 68,000 students across 90 campuses. Oluoch reported a Kshs 1.5 billion school fees deficit, which has affected student attendance. He revealed that 34% of admitted students fail to report, and 27% defer their studies because they cannot afford the fees.
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“This isn’t just a financial issue—it’s a constitutional one,” Oluoch told the lawmakers. “We cannot continue sidelining KMTC students without violating the principle of equity in education.”
A member of the committee questioned, “How can we uphold equal opportunity when a state-supported college is left out?” Another lawmaker added that the matter required urgent attention to avoid systemic exclusion.
No Loans for KMTC Students as HELB Faces Budget Breakdown.
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