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Government Will Refund Admission Fees For First-Year Students – Haruna Iddrisu
Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister-Designate for Education, has announced that the government will refund admission fees for first-year students enrolled in public tertiary institutions.
This initiative, part of President John Mahama’s education reform agenda, aims to make higher education more accessible to Ghanaians.
During his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, the Tamale South MP revealed that the government has allocated GH¢345 million to fund this program.
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The initiative will cover students in general subject areas, excluding professional programs such as medicine.
“On the authority of President Mahama, and with the approval of the Minister of Finance-designate, Hon. Ato Forson, this provision will be included in the government’s Reset Budget. The funds will ensure that students undertaking courses in the general subject areas have their admission fees refunded,” Haruna Iddrisu stated.
The minister-designate assured that students who have already paid their admission fees will also benefit from the initiative.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring fairness and inclusivity in implementing the policy.
“And for President Mahama, this is a model to experiment. We will look at it. How do we fare as a country? If it’s possible for expansion, then he will expand it. And he’s not asked that if you are able, you should not,” he added.
The policy aligns with the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s 2024 election manifesto, which prioritised educational reforms to reduce financial barriers for students, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
This initiative represents a significant step toward broader education reforms aimed at increasing access to tertiary education while easing the financial burden on families.
Beyond its immediate financial relief, the refund policy serves as a pilot for potentially expanding access to tertiary education in Ghana. The government will evaluate its success and consider further measures to make education more equitable and inclusive.
With this announcement, Haruna Iddrisu reinforced the government’s commitment to education as a cornerstone for national development and social mobility.
