Parliament approves ¢31b budget for Education Ministry for 2025
The Parliament of Ghana has approved a budget of GH¢31,772,464,382.00 for the Ministry of Education to take care of the country’s education sector for the 2025 academic year.
As part of its plans for this academic year, the Education Ministry intends to waive academic fees for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions to enhance access to higher education.
Additionally, the central government, through the Ministry in Charge of Education (MoE) will implement free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, aiming to reduce the financial burden on families.
The free tertiary education for persons with disabilities initiative is a significant step towards ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal access to education and opportunities.
To improve the welfare of pre-tertiary teachers in the country, the Ministry of Education plans to commence the construction of 100 accommodation facilities for basic school teachers under the “Teacher Dabrɛ Initiative.”
According to the government, the Teacher Dabrɛ initiative aims to provide teachers with decent accommodation, improving their living conditions and overall well-being.
Additionally, the Ministry plans to pursue other policies, including the provision of free sanitary pads for schoolgirls, the transformation of STEM education at the lower levels, and free tertiary education for first-year students.
Parliament’s approval of the budget comes after the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, moved the motion for the budget’s approval, saying that GH¢27,149,518 of the total amount will go toward compensation payments, GH¢1,123,000,000 will be allocated for goods and services, and GH¢120,000,000 will be designated for capital expenditure.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to continuing the Free Senior High School (SHS) program, with funding from the uncapped GETFund ensuring its sustained financing.
“It is intended that on April 24, the President, the Minister for Education, and the Minister for Gender will jointly launch the free sanitary pads initiative, which will be distributed nationwide.
Mr. Speaker, we intend to modernize Ghana’s education system, introduce digital skills, and, in particular, emphasize science and mathematics education. We will revolutionize STEM education at the upper primary levels, particularly in grades 4 to 6.
And, Mr. Speaker, we need to prepare tertiary institutions to absorb the increased number of students graduating from the Free Senior High School policy. The resources may not be adequate, but we will also continue efforts to complete several GETFund projects across the country that remain unfinished,” the Education Minister stated.
