President John Mahama has announced far-reaching reforms in Ghana’s education sector, pledging to make access to quality learning a right and not a privilege.

Addressing the nation through the media at the Jubilee House, the President disclosed that over 120,000 first-year students in public tertiary institutions had received refunds of admission fees under the “No Fees Stress” policy.

He explained that the initiative was aimed at preventing brilliant but needy students from losing their admissions because they could not pay fees upfront. “It signalled a decisive break from the painful era when dreams of young Ghanaians were cut short simply because they could not afford to pay fees,” he said.

The President also confirmed that the policy was linked to the broader “Student Loan Plus” programme, which will provide flexible financing options for students in subsequent years.

In basic education, he announced a GH¢564.6 million allocation for textbooks, the highest in nearly a decade, as part of efforts to strengthen foundational learning.

On secondary education, Mr Mahama said Free SHS had been strengthened with a record GH¢3.5 billion allocation, adding that decentralised feeding arrangements would be introduced to allow schools to provide students with better quality meals.

He also highlighted reforms in inclusive education, confirming that free tertiary education for persons with disabilities had commenced. “Education must be a right and not a privilege for every Ghanaian, regardless of their physical ability,” he said.

The President further announced the creation of a Ghana National Research Fund, with an initial GH¢50 million allocation, to deepen research and innovation across disciplines and reduce over-reliance on foreign grants.

“By investing in our thinkers, we are investing in our future,” he said, adding that five PhD scholarships would be awarded annually at every public university under the scheme.