Haruna Iddrisu, Minister-designate for Education, has revealed that the government will require Ghc345 million to carry out its “No Fees Stress” initiative.
When asked about the cost and total number of beneficiaries during his appearance before the Committee on Monday, January 20, 2025, the Tamale South MP stated that this initiative is expected to benefit approximately 125,000 students.
He stated that the beauty of this policy is that parents who are still willing to pay their children’s fees can continue to do so.
He posited that his ministry will work in partnership with the finance ministry to mobilise additional resources for the population of students to benefit, which is estimated at 125,000, adding that every student who has paid will have a refund of his money.
“The country will require about ₵345 million of 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.
“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,” he stated.
Haruna Iddrisu further assured the committee that President John Dramani Mahama will invest heavily in the sector to address the infrastructure deficit.
The lawmaker and lawyer said the president intends to increase investment in the education sector from basic to the tertiary level.
‘’Enormous financial investment will be made to continue with major initiatives that were done.’’
President John Dramani Mahama, during the campaign period, promised to absorb academic user facility fees, a component of the fees, for first-year students into all public tertiary institutions.
He also pledged that the Student Loan Trust Fund would be resourced to give students who can’t afford beyond level 100 the financial buffer to be able to finish their studies.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana