All monies deposited into the Education Assistance Fund, a special fund in the State treasury which is hereby created, shall be appropriated to provide financial assistance for elementary and secondary education programs including, among others, distributions under Sections 18-19 and 29-5 of the School Code, and for higher education programs, including, among others, the Monetary Award Program under Section 35 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. During fiscal years 2012 and 2013 only, the State Comptroller may order transferred and the State Treasurer may transfer from the General Revenue Fund to the Education Assistance Fund, or the State Comptroller may order transferred and the State Treasurer may transfer from the Education Assistance Fund to the General Revenue Fund, such amounts as may be required to honor the vouchers presented by the State Universities Retirement System, by a public institution of higher education, as defined in Section 1 of the Board of Higher Education Act, or by the State Board of Education pursuant to Sections 18-3, 18-4.3, 18-5, 18-6, and 18-7 of the School Code.