Board to eliminate internship loans for students
Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) Chief Executive Officer Charles Ringera during the launch of a strategic partnership with Credit Reference Bureau at Helb's offices in Nairobi on February 4, 2016. The board has done away with internship student loans. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) Chief Executive Officer Charles Ringera said the programme was being scaled down.
Internship loans to undergraduate students will be phased out in the next two years.
The Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) Chief Executive Officer Charles Ringera said the programme was being scaled down.
The board has now advised students to seek the support of the National Industrial Training Authority, which is institutionally mandated to offer help with industrial attachments.
Helb has been advancing the loans to meet students’ needs, including accommodation during their industrial work-based experience programme in the middle or at the end of their course work.
“We have advised the universities to tell their students that the practicum component has been discontinued,” Mr Ringera said.
The first group to be affected are the 2013 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam candidates, who joined universities in September 2014.
The official’s clarification follows concern by University of Kabianga student Dennis Nyakagwa, who had said the board was selectively awarding attachment funds to universities.
“Students from other public universities who are on attachment have not received the money until now. However, no reason has been given by Helb for the delay. Let them speak out,” Nyakagwa said.
