Confusion and anxiety have gripped sections of university and TVET students after some missed out on Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) allocations, even as the government moved to reassure learners that funding remains secure. HELB Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari on Wednesday insisted that the board is capable of meeting the capitation needs of all eligible students under the 2024–2025 cycle. He said the agency has already disbursed Sh20 billion to universities and Sh7.9 billion to TVET institutions. “Currently, we don’t have any problem. As we go into the second semester, we will have already gotten money through supplementary allocations to cater for any shortfall, because we now know the number of students. So we are on track,” Monari said. Despite these assurances, the reality for many students paints a different picture, with parents and learners lamenting delays in allocations, saying institutions continue to demand proof of fee payment before allowing students to register. “They are afraid to go to class if they don’t have a fee card. At the beginning of this week, we were supposed to register, but we were told that without money, our children cannot attend the course,” said Moses Maina, a parent of a student at UoN. Students are torn between the government’s assurances and the reality of delayed support that threatens to derail their education. Jane Atieno, a first-year university student, shared her frustration. “I applied for HELB in my first academic year, but I didn’t receive the loan. The portal is closing in one week, and this will force me to either be discontinued or take drastic steps.” The government, however, insists that no student should be locked out of classes or exams because of delayed funds. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba emphasised the administration’s commitment to keeping students in school. “As a government, we are doing everything possible to ensure that our students who come to universities are supported. No student who deserves to be in the university and who needs to be in the university will miss out,” Ogamba said. Monari added that HELB has engaged vice chancellors to ensure institutions accommodate affected students, with pending payments to be settled once funds are released. To strengthen sustainability, HELB has also scrapped banding in loan allocations and is exploring innovative financing models, including a social bond to securitise loan repayments. However, repayment remains a challenge. According to Monari, only 67 per cent of past beneficiaries are repaying their loans, while 33 per cent are in default. “Every shilling matters. Last year, we collected Sh5.2 billion, which enabled us to fund 49,000 university students and 114,000 TVET trainees,” he said.