Nursing Student Fees Reduced By 50% as Part of No-Fee-Stress Policy
- The government has announced that Nursing and Allied Health Training Institutions will effect a 50% reduction in fees for their students
- This reduction in fees will be under the “No-Fee-Stress” Policy, which is envisioned to reduce the financial burden on tertiary students nationwide
- GH¢499.8 million was allocated for the policy serving all first-year students in public tertiary institutions
The government has announced a 50% reduction in school fees for students of Nursing and Allied Health Training Institutions.
The reduction takes effect for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Source: Facebook
This intervention falls under the “No-Fee-Stress” Policy, designed to alleviate the financial burden on tertiary students nationwide.
According to the Ministry, the government will absorb half of the approved fees for all first-year students enrolling in nursing and allied health training programmes.
The ministry, in a statement, also warned against any unapproved fees by health training institutions.
“All institutions are strictly required to adhere to the approved fees and items as communicated by the Ministry. No institution is permitted to charge above the approved amount or demand payment for items covered under the policy."
"The Ministry of Health hereby advises Principals of Health Training Institutions to comply fully with this directive. Any Principal who contravenes this directive or imposes unauthorised fees does so at his or her own peril."
President John Dramani Mahama launched the policy in July. Since the policy was launched, at least 42,000 first-year students in public tertiary institutions have been covered by the policy.
The no-fee stress policy is meant to be flexible and not binding on all parents. The government has indicated that parents who want to pay academic fees would be allowed to do so.
The policy was introduced as part of an NDC campaign pledge and is managed under the Student Loan Trust Fund.
Though it was initially the plan, the government has since said it will no longer refund fees directly to students who paid their fees before the no-fee stress policy.
Source: Facebook
Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Apaak explained that funds will rather be credited toward second-year tuition fees.
In the 2025 budget, GH¢499.8 million was allocated for the No-Academic-Fee policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions under the ‘No-Fees-Stress’ initiative.
The government has also uncapped the GETFund in the hope of making available dedicated funds for the full financing of free tertiary education for Persons with Disability.
Economist worried about the bigger picture
YEN.com.gh reported that the promise to scrap university tuition for first-year students has been met with some scepticism.
An applied economist, Alfred Appiah, believes the tuition promise is a misplaced priority due to Ghana’s economic challenges and upcoming debt servicing after defaults that led to an IMF bailout.
Appiah felt Ghana could not afford any interventions like extra free education.
Africa Education Watch's Senior Programme Officer, Divine Kpe, at the time said the proposal is welcoming but needs to be targeted at needy people.
Source: YEN.com.gh
