KCSE Student Stuck in Mjenga due to HELB Portal Failure
In 2022, Martin Njagi, a student who had taken the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), found himself working at construction sites due to complications with the Higher Education Funding (HEF) portal. Despite scoring a C+ in his secondary school exams, he had been accepted into Meru University of Science & Technology for a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, which came with an annual cost of Ksh244,800. His report date at the university was set for September 11, 2023, at 8 a.m.
Unfortunately, a technical issue with the HEF portal left Njagi locked out, unable to secure funding for his university education. In response to this challenge, he had no choice but to take on construction work to cover his daily expenses and support his family. Multiple attempts to access the portal for loans or scholarships had proved futile, leaving his future in academia uncertain.
Every login attempt to the portal yielded the message, “Unable to complete your request. Please try again, if the problem persists, please contact the administrator,” exacerbating Njagi’s feeling of helplessness regarding when he could commence his university studies.
In a plea for assistance, he reached out to well-wishers. To make ends meet, Martin’s construction work, coupled with his mother’s income as a fishmonger, provided crucial support for his family. Additionally, he had three siblings: one who completed class 8, another in grade one, and the youngest who had yet to begin school.
He shared, “My mother had to secure a loan to admit my brother to a nearby day school. He was called to Baringo High after scoring 400 marks, but we were unable to admit him due to financial constraints. Presently, we are three months behind on rent.” His brother also owed Ksh11,000 in school fees.
In a bid to accommodate more students, the Ministry of Education had recently extended the loan application period until October 7, 2023. Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu clarified that this extension aimed to assist the 112,468 students who had yet to apply for scholarships and loans. Njagi was just one of many students racing against time to navigate the platform and embark on their educational journeys.
KCSE Student Stuck in Mjenga due to HELB Portal Failure
