Institution urged not to turn away students

HIGHER Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Nick Kuman has urged institutions not to turn away any student who has applied for loan through the Higher Education Loan Programme (Help).
Kuman was responding to questions from Usino-Bundi MP James Uguro what would happen if funds for Help weren’t available on time.
He said the heads of all the higher institutions had met on Jan 21 and told not to turn away any student.
“In those conversations, the Prime Minister (James Marape) clearly articulated to the heads of the institutions that Help, although a government programme, was not compulsory.
“It is not compulsory for every student and parent and it will be available to fill the gap of Tesas students.
“It will be available to students who want to obtain loan for various programmes that they have undertaken at the university level and the lower education institution of this country, if they wish to obtain loan to pay for their tuition fees,” Kuman said.
“At the same time, we stress the point that no student should be turned away in all the higher education institutions and the same applies to lower education systems in the country,” he said.
“Because the Government still pays the TFF (tuition fee free) and the parents’ component will kick in the last quarter of this year.
“Therefore, the Help programme is provided in such that it is not compulsory.
“It is up to the students.
“But the institutions cannot use that as a basis.
“If it’s not been paid on time, is not a basis for the institutions to turn away the students,” Kuman said.
He said the bulk of the cost of the fees would be on board and lodgings. “Our effort is to pay the tuition fee.”