Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has raised critical concerns about the sustainability of dual financial support systems for students in Colleges of Education, urging a national dialogue on the future of teacher trainee allowances in light of the ongoing elevation of colleges to autonomous status.
Speaking at the inauguration of newly constituted governing councils for Colleges of Education in Accra on August 21, the Minister questioned the feasibility of maintaining both the ‘No Fees Stress’ policy and the teacher trainee allowance, especially as the colleges transition into fully-fledged tertiary institutions.
“We cannot elevate colleges and still have issues with feeding students. Let’s have a national conversation on it,” Hon. Iddrisu stated.
“So, if there are first-year students in the Colleges of Education and we are also paying under the ‘No Fees Stress’ policy, what do we do to avoid duplication? If a student is entitled to 400 to 500 cedis allowance and we want to keep the ‘No Fees Stress’, we have to look at it.”
The Minister described the ‘No Fees Stress’ initiative as one of the most impactful policies under President Mahama’s administration, but emphasized the need for fiscal prudence and policy coherence.
“Going forward, if the state can dedicate some funding drawn from our oil revenue, it can be used to finance the ‘No Fees Stress’ policy and also support the establishment of a scholarship and bursary authority to help build the human capital of this country,” he added.
Funding Pressures and Policy Overlaps
The Minister’s remarks come amid growing concerns over budgetary pressures in the education sector.
He noted that while the government has operationalized the National Research Fund, the financial burden remains substantial.
“Government spent 31 million cedis on Book and Research Allowance for 46 Colleges of Education last year. This year, over 100 million cedis has been earmarked for the same purpose. I just want you to know the financial burden that comes with it,” he said.
In the broader tertiary education space, the Minister revealed that government expenditure rose from GHS 428 million in 2024 to a projected GHS 712 million in 2025, underscoring the need for strategic resource allocation.
Infrastructure and Expansion
Addressing infrastructure challenges, Hon. Iddrisu announced that GHS 410 million has been allocated by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to complete stalled projects in tertiary institutions.
He also disclosed a policy proposal for the absorption of three additional Colleges of Education—Savannah College of Education, Ghana Muslim Mission College, and Christ the Teacher College—into the public system.
“I expect that the GTEC Director-General will facilitate the process so that it will mean expanded access for those institutions,” he stated.
The Minister concluded by reaffirming government’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education, but called for a realistic reassessment of overlapping financial policies to ensure long-term sustainability.
Credit: 3newsGH
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