Many parents are not happy with No Fees Stress reimbursement model — Dr. Adutwum

Former Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has expressed reservations about the reimbursement model under the government's No Fees Stress policy.

He noted that many parents are dissatisfied because the refunded money does not always reach them after the students have received it.

He also argued that the current arrangement excludes some of the country's poorest students, who are unable to raise the initial enrolment fees required before qualifying for reimbursement.

Dr. Adutwum made the remarks on Wednesday, July 8, when Parliament's Select Committee on Education met with the Student Loan Trust Fund to discuss student financing and the implementation of government support programmes.

"One of the major challenges coming from our constituents is the fact that they can't even pay to enter to go and enroll... A number of people who need this the most are the ones who don't attempt at all, because they can't pay the enrollment fee to enter for you to capture them," the former Minister said.

He said government should consider replacing the reimbursement model with a direct payment system that allows universities to admit eligible students with the assurance that the state will later settle the approved fees.

According to him, such an arrangement would remove the financial barrier facing students from low-income families while ensuring tertiary institutions receive the funds due them.

"I don't believe in the reimbursement. I really want the universities to have an arrangement with government to pay them directly... Majority of the parents are not happy with this policy, because the money doesn't go back to them," he stressed.

Dr. Adutwum further noted that some parents borrow money to pay admission fees, only for the reimbursement to be delayed or fail to reach them, leaving them to continue servicing their loans despite the government's intervention.

He also called for improved integration of government databases to prevent students who are already benefiting from fully funded scholarships from also accessing subsidised student loans.

According to him, such move would promote fairness and ensure limited public resources are directed to those who need them most.