Most students who are unable to pay university fees partially or entirely, always depend on the High Loans Education Board to come through for them.
However, there are times the disbursement of loans to universities is delayed causing anxiety among students.
HELB was established in July 1995 to financially help needy students in higher learning institutions.
The funds are usually disbursed twice a year to students above 18 years.
Campus students depend on these funds to help carter for their daily needs.
On April 23, the KCSE results were released with 145,145 students proceeding to the university as compared to the previous year when 143,140 students qualified by attaining the cut point.
Most students have started reporting to various campuses and this means HELB loans should be disbursed early for their upkeep and other crucial uses while on their respective campuses.
Joining the university, after four years of hard work in high school is something to be happy about until when the funds are delayed.
Most universities demand that you clear 90 per cent of the total fees before being admitted.
For continuing students, financial woes are the new norm.
There are fees to be paid, or else you will have interrupted studies.
All these are enough reasons to send a student into stress and depression.
With depression, most campus students will turn to drug abuse to escape from the reality. Drugs are like their only ‘saviour’.
This is a worrying issue that should only be solved by disbursing loans on time.
Some will even turn to theft for them to survive.
Hunger has bred so many vices in campus students.
The recent spikes in food prices and the economy have affected university students.
It's high time the government ensures that the HELB loans are disbursed on time.
In the same way, they want students to pay back the loans early without delay after completion of school, the same should happen during disbursement.
Most students depend on these loans to make their stay in school smooth.
Therefore the delay is unfair.
Sometimes, the money does not entirely cater for school fees as most of them have started small businesses to improve their living standards and have something little in their pockets.
Let a lasting solution be found on how the disbursement of loans to higher institutions is going to be undertaken.
Schools should not be a suffering ground but rather a succeeding ground.
We are the leaders of tomorrow and our rights are paramount.
Student at Rongo University
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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