Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that government has allocated a budget of GH¢3.5 billion for the Free SHS programme for the year 2025.
During the presentation of the 2025 Budget Statement and economic policy in Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, he further disclosed that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has been uncapped to ensure sustainable funding for free secondary education.
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According to the Minister, President Mahama by this move aims to resolve the funding challenges and the concerns about the quality of the free secondary education programme since it was introduced.
By removing the cap on GETFund, the government has secured an additional funding to cater for the Free SHS and other critical expenditures.
“Mr Speaker, the overarching concern about free secondary education has been its quality and the absence of a dedicated source of funding. H.E President John Mahama has resolved the funding challenge by uncapping the GETFund. This makes available dedicated funds for the full financing of free secondary education and free tertiary education for Persons with Disability (PWDs),” he stated.
“Mr Speaker, this year the budget for the free secondary education programme is GH¢3.5 billion. By uncapping the GETFund, we will be making available an additional GH¢4.1 billion to the GETFund, specifically for the financing of the free secondary education programme and other related expenditures, ” he added.
The minister noted that, aside from uncapping the GETFund, the government has also absorbed the debt service, made up of interest and principal, from the Daakye bond GETFund contracted.
The Minister further assured Parliament that this policy shift would not only enhance the quality of education but also expand access to tertiary education for marginalised groups, particularly Persons with Disability (PWDs).
