Students are given a 21-day notice about the new funding model by HELB.
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has given university students 21 days to challenge the new financing model that has been the source of discontent among many students.
Students may express their concerns and comments regarding the model during the three-week appeal period, which began on April 1, 2025.
The Variable Scholarship Loan Funding Model, which is the name of this novel funding approach, categorizes students according to their financial need into five financial groups.
The neediest pupils are in Band 1, while the least financially needy ones are in Band 5.
With the intention of making sure that financial aid goes to the pupils who need it the most, the government implemented this model. But a lot of students have maintained that the system is unjust.
Because they think it ignores some aspects of their financial circumstances, it has sparked demonstrations and widespread complaints.
From April 1 to April 4, 2025, HELB and the Universities Fund (UF) conducted a public consultation in order to address these worries.
Students and other stakeholders were encouraged to express their thoughts about the funding model throughout this time.
Students were able to express their opinions, ideas, and concerns during the session, whether online or at different sites, such as public universities around the nation.
The goal of this public participation procedure was to solicit feedback from as many individuals as possible in order to enhance the funding model and the scholarship and loan application procedure.
The public consultation’s input has resulted in enhancements to the appeals process, according to HELB. This covers modifications to make the process more equitable and successful for students.
Students who believe their concerns were ignored during the consultation can now officially file their complaints or recommendations to HELB during this 21-day appeal window.
The goal is to improve the funding model to better serve the demands of all students by giving them a voice.
Following a court ruling, the appeal time and this public consultation were initiated. The High Court’s ruling that the financing model was unconstitutional had previously been stayed by the Court of Appeal.
The government was permitted by the court to keep utilizing the financing system while legal issues are still being resolved. The current funding system may change depending on the outcome of the ongoing lawsuit, but it is still in place as a result.
For the time being, HELB has confirmed that the 21-day appeal window will stay open and that students should use this chance to voice their worries.
The funding model may change in the future, depending on how the court case goes.
Although the government has stated clearly that it is willing to make modifications, these changes will be contingent upon the opinions it gets and the choices made by the court.
In the meantime, students are still expressing their concerns about the financing structure, and many believe that the categorization into financial groups is unjust and does not truly represent their actual financial needs.
Now that the appeals procedure is available, students are urged to provide their input in the hopes of seeing a fairer and more inclusive funding model that better meets the needs of all students.