'No Fees Stress': Over GHC888.8 million spent on 312,448 students so far — Education Minister

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed that more than GHC888.8 million has been spent under the government's "No Fees Stress" policy since its introduction.

The policy, which is being implemented through the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), covers academic-related fees for first-year students in public universities, colleges of education, nursing training institutions and technical universities.

Addressing Parliament on Thursday, June 18, Mr. Iddrisu said the programme has been successfully rolled out nationwide and continues to ease the financial burden on students and their families.

According to him, the initiative has so far supported 312,448 first-year students enrolled in public tertiary institutions across the country.

Providing a breakdown of the beneficiaries, the Minister indicated that 152,698 validated first-year students benefited during the 2024/2025 academic year at a cost of GHC399.4 million.

He added that 159,750 students have already benefited during the ongoing 2025/2026 academic year, with expenditure reaching about GHC489.5 million.

“To date, 312,448 students have been assisted under the No Fees Stress policy at a total cost of GHC888,831,000,” the Minister told Parliament.

He said the initiative demonstrates the government's commitment to expanding access to tertiary education and removing financial barriers that prevent qualified students from pursuing higher education.

The Education Minister further reiterated that the government's education agenda remains focused on improving access, relevance and quality across all levels of the sector.