Atleast 4,600 university students apply for review by Higher Funding

At least 4,600 university students have lodged appeals regarding their government funding allocations under the new university financing model.

Data from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) indicates that 4,621 appeals were submitted by Thursday, following the reopening of the appeals portal on April 1, as mandated by the Court of Appeal.

With the appeal deadline set for April 21, students who are unhappy with their funding decisions have only four days left to file their complaints.

The appeals process allows students a chance to contest the classification of their government support under the new Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding Model. The Ministry of Education has updated the appeals process in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s directives.

HELB’s Chief Executive Officer, Geoffrey Monari, informed this reporter on Wednesday that the appeal process has been broadened to address a wider variety of issues.

“Previously, students were required to provide just one reason for their appeal. Now, they can present multiple reasons,” Monari stated.

He noted that the system now permits students to include reasons that are not listed among the standard options, offering them greater flexibility in detailing their situations.

“The court instructed us to engage in public participation and incorporate feedback to enhance the appeals process. We have made these adjustments,” Monari added.

He also confirmed that HELB has processed 109,000 funding requests from new students, which had been postponed after the High Court temporarily suspended the new model in December 2024.

On April 1, HELB and the Universities Fund called for public participation in reviewing the scholarship and loan appeals process, following a Court of Appeal ruling on March 26. The court had put a hold on an earlier High Court ruling that deemed the funding model unconstitutional and mandated that public participation be completed within 14 days.

Currently, HELB assesses appeals based on the Means Testing Instrument (MTI) score used during the initial applications. Only new information that was not previously submitted can affect a reassessment.

Key reasons for appeals include the death of one or both parents, abandonment by guardians, or having family members with chronic health issues. Students with disabilities, those receiving government cash transfers, or beneficiaries of other social support programs are also eligible for reconsideration.

Additional factors include recent loss of parental income, sponsorship during primary or secondary education, or having a sibling in higher education who is also applying for financial assistance.