President Mahama launches “No Fee Stress” Policy: Breaking Financial Barriers to Education
The government of Ghana has unveiled a ground-breaking “No Fee Stress Policy” aimed at removing financial barriers to tertiary education for first-year students in public institutions.
At a landmark launch event, in Koforidua today, President Mahama highlighted the policy’s transformative potential, pledging to cover academic-related fees for over 150,000 students across public universities, colleges of education, technical universities, and nursing training institutions.
“No Ghanaian child will be denied entry into tertiary education simply because they cannot afford academic fees,” declared President Mahama, sharing poignant stories of talented students previously unable to pursue higher education due to financial constraints.
Key policy features include of the initiative includes;
– Full coverage of first-year academic fees
– Enhanced student loan support
– Free tertiary education for persons with disabilities
– Targeted scholarships for underrepresented communities
According to President Mahama, initial portal statistics reveal promising engagement, with 150,000 students accessing the system and 15,000 already receiving payment alerts.
The initiative addresses a critical educational challenge, with recent data showing only 18% of Ghanaians aged 18 and above have completed tertiary education.
By eliminating upfront financial barriers, the government aims to create more equitable access to education and support national development through increased human capital investment.
He stressed that, the policy represents a significant step towards fulfilling Ghana’s constitutional mandate of providing equal educational opportunities for all citizens.
