Government is projecting to spend nearly GH¢800 million on tertiary education financing under the No-Fees-Stress programme and related student support schemes in the 2026/27 academic year.
The projection comes as the Education Ministry intensifies consultations with key tertiary education stakeholders ahead of the new academic year.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu on Tuesday convened a meeting with the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Vice Chancellors Ghana (VCG) and the Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) to review arrangements for the implementation of the No-Fees-Stress initiative.
The engagement brought together the leadership of the institutions responsible for regulating tertiary education, managing student financing and overseeing universities and colleges of education.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of rising demand for government-backed financial support for tertiary students.
The SLTF has disclosed that it spent about GH¢600 million in 2026 across its various programmes, including the Students Loan Scheme, Students Loan Plus, teacher-trainee allowances, the No-Academic-Fees initiative and support for students with disabilities.
For the 2026/27 academic year, the Fund expects its expenditure to rise to nearly GH¢800 million, while the number of beneficiaries under its programmes is projected to approach 200,000.
The SLTF is also anticipating about 80,000 loan applications during the next academic year and plans to further digitalise its loan processes, including the signing of loan agreements electronically. A digital product loan scheme is also being restructured to enable students to access financing for educational devices.
The latest engagement between the Ministry and the tertiary education stakeholders is therefore expected to help streamline implementation as institutions prepare for the 2026/27 academic year.
Dr Saajida Shiraz, Chief Executive Officer of the SLTF, has previously said the Fund’s programmes have expanded significantly under the No-Fees-Stress framework.
According to the Fund, its interventions comprise four major components: the No-Academic-Fees Policy, Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities, Students Loan Plus and the traditional student loan.
For the 2025/26 academic year, the SLTF reported 168,982 beneficiaries under its programmes, including students whose academic fee support was paid directly to institutions. It also reported that 59,307 students had received enhanced traditional loans amounting to GH¢210.61 million.
The Ministry’s Tuesday meeting involved the SLTF led by Dr Shiraz, GTEC led by Prof Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, VCG under its newly appointed chairman, Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako, and PRINCOF led by its National President, Prof Samuel Awinkene Atintono.
The consultations are taking place as government seeks to ensure that the financial-support component of tertiary education does not become a barrier to qualified students entering public tertiary institutions.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
