The state is mulling plans to streamline government bursaries to eliminate cases of duplication, which have seen some students locked out as others are overfunded.
The national students funding body, Higher Education Loans Board, said there is need to have a tracking system that will eliminate double-funding of some students while others miss out.
Helb CEO Charles Ringera said there should be a coordinated system for the different state bursaries.
Some of these include the National Government – Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), County Government Bursaries and Presidential Secondary School Bursary.
“There should be a policy change to have in place central identification of needy students. Currently, they come to Helb, NGCDF, NGAAF and then you realise that one child is overfunded and others not having anything,” Ringera told MPs.
According to the Helb boss, only a centralised identification of needy students will cure the double allocation that is rampant in the current system.
He was speaking during a meeting with the National Assembly’s Education Committee on the admission and funding of students.
The Committee is chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly.
While Helb offers bursaries and scholarships to financially disadvantaged students in both public and private universities and colleges, county bursaries, NG-CDF and NGAAF support learners within their jurisdictions.
The Presidential Secondary School Bursary on the hand is issued from the Office of the President to financially disadvantaged high school students.
Kenya Institute of Social Work and Community Development, Presidential Bursary Scheme for Orphans and Vulnerable students and Higher Education Funding also provide learners with financial assistance.
KISWCD is offered to needy students from poor households as well as marginalised groups in Asal areas and urban slums.
This comes on the backdrop of a similar initiative by the Education ministry to have a coordinated approach in provision of scholarships and bursaries.
The draft Basic Education Scholarships and Bursaries Bill, 2024 has among other things proposed the establishment of a basic education scholarships and bursaries council.
According to the proposal, the Council will be charged with the mandate of coordinating scholarships and bursaries to eligible learners.
“The Council will establish criteria for identification of persons qualified for the award of scholarships and bursaries in basic education and continually develop, maintain and update a central database incorporating institutions or entities administering scholarships and bursaries, details of the beneficiaries, the eligibility status of each beneficiary and the amount awarded,” the bill stipulates.
The Council shall also consider whether a learner is benefiting from any other scholarship or bursary and the amount of such benefit.
Should a learner receive in excess of what they need, the school shall notify the granting institution of the excess amount and seek guidance on whether to refund or allocate it to another eligible beneficiary.
The council shall also consider whether the applicant is benefiting from any other scholarship or bursaries and amount of such benefit.
The Council’s board is proposed to have a chairperson appointed by the President, principal secretaries in Basic Education and National Treasury or their nominees, National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and Council of Governors.
There is also provision for a board member nominated by the Kenya Bankers Association, with experience in banking.