Education Minister-designate Haruna Iddrisu has announced that the admission fees of first-year public tertiary students will be refunded.
This, he said, forms part of President John Mahama’s plan to make higher education more accessible.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, the Tamale South MP revealed that the government will earmark GH¢345 million to cover admission fees for students enrolled in general subject areas at tertiary institutions, excluding professional programs like medicine.
“We know that some students have paid their admission fees, we will refund it to them,” he revealed during his vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on January 20.
However, in responding to Mr Afenyo-Markin’s question, Mr Iddrisu said, students studying medicine will be excluded.
“On the authority of President Mahama, I am sure the Minister of Finance, if approved, will present the Reset Budget of the government. It will include some provision of GHC345 million for admission fees for students studying in normal areas, not areas like Medicine,” he stated.
When asked to provide clarity on whether tuition fee will also be catered for, the nominee said, “Tuition is already free in all public universities in Ghana, so we are referring to admission fees.”
