Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students have expressed their displeasure at the limited amount of time they were given to express their views on the Variable Scholarship Loan Funding Model.
The students, who spoke at the Nyeri National Polytechnic during a public participation session on the loans and scholarship appeals mechanism of the new university funding model, questioned the organizers for allocating them a few hours to give their opinion on a model they said would play a crucial role in funding their education. The session had been organized by the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the University Fund to collect views from the general public, stakeholders including parents and the students on the model's loans and scholarship appeals mechanism as directed by the appellate court on March 26.
Both HELB and University Fund had given the stakeholders until 5pm today (Friday) to submit their comments regarding the model through slappeals@helb.co.ke or appeals@ufb.go.ke but the TVET students from Nyandarua, Nyeri, Murang'a and Laikipia counties could not hide their dissatisfaction at the decision of the two institutions to select one aspect of the model without giving consideration for other areas of contention within the new funding plan. "You are only seeking our opinion on the appeal mechanism.
The question is, do you only want us to appeal or do you want to listen to our views on the whole model?
