TEIN-KsTU Highlights NDC's 'No-Academic-Fee' Policy and Tertiary Support Initiatives for Students

The Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) has highlighted a suite of educational interventions proposed by former President John Dramani Mahama aimed at alleviating the financial burden on tertiary students. During a welcoming ceremony for fresh students at the university, TEIN-KsTU leadership emphasized that these policies are designed to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder the academic aspirations of Ghanaian youth. The group underscored that the high cost of education often leads to academic disruptions, which these proposed reforms seek to eliminate.

Central to the discussions was the 'No-Academic-Fee' policy, which Abigail Amenyah, the TEIN-KsTU President, identified as a critical intervention for first-year students. According to Amenyah, this policy is specifically targeted at reducing the immediate financial pressure on families during the admission cycle, thereby preventing students from deferring their studies or withdrawing entirely due to lack of funds. This initiative is positioned as a direct response to the rising costs of higher education in Ghana and aims to increase the transition rate from secondary to tertiary institutions.

In addition to fee waivers, the network praised reforms regarding the Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) and the introduction of the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities initiative. Amenyah noted that these changes represent a significant shift toward inclusivity, ensuring that students with disabilities receive the necessary financial support to complete their education without hardship. By restructuring the student loan system, the NDC intends to make capital more accessible to students during their course of study, rather than it being a source of post-graduation stress.

Supporting these assertions, Emmanuel Reagan Fynn, the Ashanti Regional Organiser of the NDC, encouraged the students to be active ambassadors of these policies while maintaining a strong focus on their academic responsibilities. He urged TEIN members to effectively communicate the benefits of the party's educational agenda to their peers. As the national dialogue on education continues to evolve, these highlighted policies form a core part of the NDC's strategy to address accessibility and affordability in Ghana's higher education sector.