The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) will now provide funding for Free Senior High School (Free SHS) and free tertiary education for persons with disability.
According to him, GH₵4.2 billion has been earmarked specifically for these initiatives, marking a major shift in the financing structure of Ghana’s education sector.
Briefing the media on Wednesday, November 19, Mr. Iddrisu clarified misconceptions circulating in the public domain about the absence of funding for Free SHS in the 2025 budget.
“The Ghana Education Fund has been allocated 9.9 billion, including 4.2 billion earmarked for Free Senior High School and free TVET infrastructure and services,” he explained.
“I’ve heard commentaries suggesting that there is no allocation for Free SHS. That is not practically possible.”
He stated that President John Mahama, in the 2025 Budget Statement, outlined a significant policy shift, moving the financing of Free SHS from petroleum revenue to GETFund.
“From 2018 to 2024, Free SHS was largely financed from the country’s petroleum revenue. The shift now is that GETFund will provide the financing. When the GETFund formula gets to Parliament, you will see the actual numbers,” he said.
The Minister added that the allocation will also cover student feeding and support the rollout of free tertiary education for persons with disability.
He noted that the Student Loan Trust Fund and the soon-to-be-established Ghana Scholarship Authority will collaborate on disbursement processes to ensure the initiative is effectively implemented.