Gov’t gives HELB defaulters 100pc waiver on penalties

The Government has announced 100 per cent waiver on Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) penalties.

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed however said the waiver is only applicable between May 3 and June 30, 2018.

She further directed that all universities adopt the HELB smart card system that will enable them to easily monitor repayment of loans disbursed to students.

“This will accelerate the remittance process and remove the physical contact of university deans with student ledgers which often causes delay.

“The smart card which is already in use in KeMU (Kenya Methodist University), Masai Mara and Pwani universities will give students the responsibility to pay fees from the tuition e-wallet which is locked by a special system for that purpose only,” the Education CS said.

Speaking during the HELB employers forum on Thursday, Amb. Mohamed also revealed that the loans Board will now be known as the Tertiary Education Funding Corporation.

She also presided over the launch of the institution’s employers portal, a website that will be used to upload employees payment information online.

Through the portal, employers will also be expected to regularly check that their workers are compliant with the Board’s regulations.

HELB however maintains that repayments are not enough to fully fund higher education and this is why they are also seeking funds from external sources.