First-year public tertiary students’ admission fees would be reimbursed, according to pronouncements made by Haruna Iddrisu, the minister-designate for education.
He claimed that this is a component of President John Mahama’s strategy to increase access to higher education.
The Tamale South MP stated during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday that GH¢345 million will be set aside by the government to pay for admission fees for students enrolled in tertiary institutions’ general subject areas, with the exception of professional programs like 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 said.
Students who have already paid their entry costs will not be excluded, the Minister-designate promised.
“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 stated.
The policy is the realization of a pledge made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in its 2024 election campaign manifesto.
It is a component of a larger set of changes meant to increase access to postsecondary education, especially for students from low-income families.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com