Days after former Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed issued harsh directives to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) defaulters, now the Sports CS says that unemployed university graduates will not be forced to repay their HELB debts.
The CS said only those who are employed will be tracked to repay the funds so that others can benefit.
She spoke after distributing sanitary towels to students of Butula Girls Secondary School in Busia county.
“If you owe money and you have been working for 10 to 15 years, you need to go to HELB and have a discussion with them on the terms of repayment,” she said.
She further explained that the 133 courses being rumoured as “useless” were being reviewed to ensure that they meet the required standards.
“No child is taking a course at the University that is useless. The students are undertaking courses that are relevant to the country’s economy,” the CS added.
Earlier, Busia Kuppet Executive Secretary Moffat Okisai faulted the Commission for University Education (CUE) for outlawing the 133 degree courses saying it had demoralised the affected students.
Okisai urged HELB to write off the loans issued to the affected students.
“These students are jobless and helpless, where are they going to get the money to repay the loans yet their courses have been outlawed,” he said.
Meanwhile, two Meru legislators want the HELB Act amended so as not to punish defaulters
Igembe South MP John Paul Mwirigi and Eala MP Mpuru Aburi have said they will soon propose the amendments to the National Assembly.
The two leaders condemned remarks made by Mohamed that the 74,000 HELB defaulters will be tracked down by police, arrested and compelled to repay the loans.