The Minister-Designate for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has stated that approximately ₵345 million will be required to fully implement the government’s proposed free tuition policy for first-year tertiary students. While undergoing his vetting by the Appointments Committee in Parliament on January 20, 2025, the Tamale South MP highlighted the policy’s potential to enhance access to tertiary education for a significant number of students across the country.
He noted that the allocated funds would cover tuition fees for students entering tertiary institutions, ensuring equitable access to higher education. Haruna Iddrisu further explained that the government plans to channel the required funds directly to the affected universities.
He mentioned that the initiative would include provisions to reimburse students who have already paid their tuition fees, ensuring fairness in the policy’s implementation. “The country will need approximately ₵345 million for the students entering tertiary institutions; this is the amount the state will be required to provide. We intend to allocate that money to the affected universities so they can issue refunds to those who have already paid their fees,” he stated.
He further emphasised that the new policy will offer flexibility to parents, allowing those who are willing to pay fees to do so under the framework introduced by the National Democratic Congress (NDC). “The beauty of this is that parents who are willing to pay can do so under this policy that the NDC has introduced,” he stated.
The announcement comes after the NDC pledged to implement the free tertiary tuition policy during their 2024 campaign, aiming to ease the financial burden on students and their families while promoting greater access to higher education. The minister-designate in his submission pledged to follow the policy through and ensure its effective implementation.
By: William Narh
