Minister-designate of Education, Haruna Iddrisu has revealed that the ‘No Fees Stress” Initiative will not benefit professional courses such as medicine.
The nominee, who is also the member of Parliament for the constituents of Tamale South, clarified that the President Mahama-led administration will release funds to cater to the initiative in the first budget.
He said the budget will capture the cost of Ghc 345 million to cater to the admission fees for students undertaking courses in the normal subject areas, not professional courses like medicine.
“On the authority of President Mahama, I am sure his Minister of Finance will present the reset budget of the government. It will include some provisions of some Ghc 345 million to cater to admission fees for students undertaking courses in the normal subject areas, not the professional areas like medicine.
He said the President sees this as a module to experiment with based on the economy and expand it when necessary.
He added, “And for President Mahama, this is a model to experiment. We will look at it. How do we fare as a country? If it’s possible for expansion, then he will expand it. And he’s not asked that if you are able, you should not.”
He also revealed that all those who have already paid their fees in the respective schools will get a refund.
He also pledged to uncap the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) as a matter of urgency to bolster infrastructural development in the education sector.
“In the last few years, the GETFund has suffered because of the decision of the then finance minister to cap it. President Mahama has gone public, and I join him to say that we will uncap GETFund to free additional resources to support robust infrastructural development,” he said.
He stressed, “I will engage the Minister for Finance to uncap GETFund as a matter of expediency.”
He said that the plan to uncap GETFund would be incorporated into broader discussions with the IMF to review existing agreements.
“…and for the President to engage with the IMF to review the memorandum, which included GETFund in the negotiations. President Mahama has said that he will review the IMF, so part of the review will be to uncap the GETFund.”
Meanwhile, watch as John Mahama assures Ghanaians to be decisive and swift in his actions
