The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has officially invited university students to submit their grievances regarding the government’s new university funding model. This comes after the completion of a public participation exercise mandated by a recent Court of Appeal decision.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, HELB and the Universities Fund (UF) announced that students now have a 21-day period, from April 1 to April 21 to file their appeals through the official portal.
“Following the successful conclusion of a streamlined public participation process, and after receiving feedback from various stakeholders, the two State Corporations have enhanced the scholarship and loan appeal procedures,” read part of the notice.
The initiative was sparked by a Court of Appeal directive that suspended a prior High Court ruling which had declared the current funding model unconstitutional. The court ordered HELB and UF to engage the public and address concerns raised by students and other stakeholders.
As a result, from April 1 to April 4, both agencies conducted a countrywide engagement campaign across public universities and technical institutions. During this period, they collected feedback, memoranda, and recommendations through both digital platforms and physical forums.
The revised model in question is the Variable Scholarship Loan Funding Model, which segments students into five financial bands ranging from Band 1 (most financially disadvantaged) to Band 5 (least financially needy). This model has been met with significant resistance from students, with many organizing protests and submitting formal objections, claiming it is unjust and exclusionary.
Despite the opposition, the Court of Appeal permitted the government to proceed with implementing the model while legal proceedings continue. However, HELB emphasized that the model remains under judicial scrutiny, and future changes may occur depending on the final verdict of the ongoing court case.
For now, HELB and UF encourage all students dissatisfied with their funding categorization to take advantage of the appeals window and make their submissions before the April 21 deadline.
