Amid growing curiosity and concern among the first-year teacher trainees, Coleman Publications has officially confirmed that Level 100 students enrolled in the Public Colleges of Education will receive their allowances, despite benefiting from the newly introduced No Fees Stress policy.
This clarification comes in the wake of the Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s announcement during the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review that all nursing and teacher trainee allowances from January to June have been paid, with monthly disbursements guaranteed from July onward.
Dr. Forson described the move as part of a broader effort to “reset the economy for the Ghana we want,” emphasising that the government’s commitment to social investment remains unwavering.
“We have cleared all arrears owed to our nursing and teacher trainees for the first half of the year. Beginning this month, allowances will be paid promptly every month without delay,” he stated to Parliament on July 24.
His remarks were met with enthusiastic approval from the Majority caucus and education sector observers.
However, the rollout of payments has seen uneven progress. Nursing trainees have confirmed receipt of their stipends following the Ministry of Health’s release of GH¢462 million, which has reached thousands of students nationwide.
In contrast, teacher trainees are still awaiting disbursement, prompting concern and speculation—particularly among Level 100 students who feared their eligibility might be affected by the No Fees Stress policy.
Introduced earlier this year, the No Fees Stress policy is a flagship initiative aimed at removing financial barriers for first-year tertiary students.
Under the policy, the government directly covers academic-related fees for Level 100 students in public institutions.
While this has been widely celebrated, it has also led to confusion about whether these students would still receive their monthly trainee allowances for the 2024/25 academic year, which are separate from tuition support.
According to our checks, the Finance Minister’s statement explicitly includes Level 100 teacher trainees in the allowance payments.
The amount allocated for teacher trainees covers all levels, including first-year students, provided they have registered for the allowance and submitted the required documentation.
The Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) is responsible for disbursing the funds, and payments are expected to begin within days.
However, it should be noted that the government has plans to place the Controller and Accountant General’s Department in charge of trainee allowance disbursement in the coming months.
“The No Fees Stress policy does not replace or cancel the teacher trainee allowance. Both are distinct benefits, and Level 100 students are entitled to receive their stipends just like their senior colleagues.”
As the wait continues, teacher trainees are urged to keep their fingers crossed, as they are expected to receive their allowances in the coming days
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