Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu Reports GHS 888.8m Expenditure Supporting 312,448 Students via 'No Fee Stress' Policy

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has informed Parliament that the government’s flagship “No Fee Stress” policy has successfully supported 312,448 first-year tertiary students during the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic years. Addressing the House, the Minister revealed that the initiative has cost the state a total of GHS 888.8 million so far. The program was designed to alleviate the immediate financial burdens on students entering higher education and to ensure that financial constraints do not serve as a barrier to academic progression in Ghana.

Providing a detailed breakdown of the expenditure, the Minister noted that for the 2024/2025 academic year, 152,698 students benefited at a cost of approximately GHS 399.4 million. This support continued into the 2025/2026 academic year, which saw the number of beneficiaries rise to 159,750, requiring an allocation of GHS 489.5 million. Minister Iddrisu emphasized that these funds have been processed and disbursed promptly following the verification of student eligibility, ensuring that the initiative remains fully operational and effective across the country’s tertiary institutions.

Beyond general tertiary support, the policy has introduced specific interventions for vulnerable groups and specialized disciplines. The Minister highlighted that 1,530 students with disabilities received full coverage for both tuition and residential fees, amounting to an investment of GHS 9.84 million. Furthermore, significant reforms in legal education financing have allowed students at the Ghana School of Law to access the Student Loan Trust Fund. Reports indicate that between 610 and 1,300 law students have already benefited from these revised loan options, marking a shift toward more inclusive professional education.

In his closing remarks, Minister Iddrisu assured Parliament and the public that there are currently no outstanding financial obligations or arrears under the policy for the 2024-2026 period. He credited this stability to the timely release of funds by the Ministry of Finance. Looking ahead, the government plans to further strengthen technical education with a projected allocation of GHS 10 million per technical university by 2027, totaling GHS 100 million. The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining a balance between expanding educational access and upholding high standards of quality across all levels of the education sector.