Effects of Level of Adequacy of Higher Education Loans on Participation Rates of Students in Distance Degree Programmes at Kenyatta University, Kenya

Abstract

The study examined the level of adequacy of the Higher Education Loans Board’s (HELB) allocation on participation rates among students in distance education degree programmes at Kenyatta University, Kenya. The study employed the ex-post-facto design and targeted 20 university administrators and 2,000 students, from which a sample size of 15 administrators and 121 students. This yielded 136 respondents. Data were collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. Quantitative data from questionnaires were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data from interviews were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that HELB loans allocated to distance education students were not adequate in covering students’ fees requirement. It was evident that the inadequate loan allocation had impacted negatively on student participation. This is because a substantial number of students either stagnated in their studies, making them unable to cope with their cohorts, or completely dropped   out of the distance education programme due to inability to pay the required tuition fees. It was recommended that HELB should review the loan terms and conditions so as to make HELB loans easily accessible to needy and deserving students and provide feedback to applicants so as to give them time to look for alternative sources of funding in case they have been unsuccessful. In addition, it was recommended that the Government’s budgetary allocations towards HELB should be increased so as to ensure that sufficient funds are set aside for higher education loans for distance education students (240 words).

Keywords: Higher Education Loans, Adequacy, Distance education programme, Kenyatta University, Kenya.