₵345m ‘needed’ for free tertiary admission policy – Incoming MoE

The Minister-Designate for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed that approximately GH₵345 million will be needed to fully implement the government’s proposed free tuition admission policy for first-year tertiary students.

Speaking during his vetting by the Parliament Appointments Committee on January 20, 2025, the Tamale South Member of Parliament emphasized the policy’s potential to make tertiary education more accessible to many students nationwide.

The incoming Minister of Education noted that the allocated funds would cover tuition fees for prospective students entering government tertiary institutions, ensuring equitable access to higher education.

Haruna Iddrisu further explained that the central government plans to channel the required funds directly to the affected universities.

He added that the free tertiary admission initiative would include provisions for reimbursing students who have already paid their tuition fees, safeguarding fairness in the policy’s implementation.

“The country will require about ₵345 million for the population of students who enter tertiary institutions, that is what the state will be required to do. We intend to provide that money to the affected universities, at least, to make refunds to those who have already paid fees,” he stated.

He further emphasised that the new tertiary admission policy will offer parents flexibility, allowing those willing to pay fees to do so under the framework introduced by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“The beauty of this is that parents who are willing to pay can do so under this policy that has been introduced by the NDC,” the State Minister in Charge of Education told the Parliament Appointments Committee.

The ruling National Democratic Congress announced the free tertiary tuition policy during its 2024 campaign. The policy aims to ease the financial burden on students and their families while promoting greater access to higher education.

In other news, the Minister of Education designate, Haruna Iddrisu, has stated categorically that President John Dramani Mahama has no intention of cancelling the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy introduced by the previous administration but will rather expand it to cover private schools.

Commenting on the free secondary education policy when he appeared before the 11-member Appointments Committee of Parliament, he indicated that the President would hold a national stakeholder forum to bring together experts in the sector, teachers, parents, students and donor partners to review the Free SHS policy and find ways to make it more sustainable, reliable and adequately funded.

“President Mahama has no option to cancel the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program as he will expand it to private schools,” the Minister of Education-designate told the Parliament Appointments Committee.

He added “It is a matter of debate between free universal education absorbing all the costs and progressively free starting with infrastructure. But the President will undertake a comprehensive review to make it sustainable.”