Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister-Designate for Education, has estimated that GH₵345 million will be required to implement the government’s free tuition policy for first-year tertiary students. He shared this during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 20, 2025.
The Tamale South MP highlighted the policy as a step toward improving access to tertiary education across the country. He stated that the funds would cover tuition fees for newly admitted students, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent students from pursuing higher education.
According to Haruna Iddrisu, the funds would be disbursed directly to universities, and arrangements would be made to reimburse students who have already paid their tuition fees, ensuring a fair rollout of the initiative.
“This policy will require approximately ₵345 million to cater for the incoming population of tertiary students. The government will provide this funding directly to universities, and reimbursements will be made to those who have already paid their fees,” he explained.
He also clarified that the policy would give parents the option to pay fees if they wished, offering flexibility under the framework introduced by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“The beauty of this policy is its flexibility. Parents who are willing to pay can still do so within the framework introduced by the NDC,” he added.
The free tuition initiative is part of the NDC’s broader efforts to ease the financial burden on students and families while promoting equitable access to higher education. The party first pledged this policy during their 2024 campaign, presenting it as a key strategy to expand opportunities for young Ghanaians.
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