No Fees Stress: Students won’t receive cash; fees will be credited directly to universities – Apaak – Nsemkeka
The Deputy Education Minister, Dr Clement Apaak, has provided clarity on the implementation of the government’s “No Fees Stress” initiative, stating that first-year university students who have already paid their academic fees will not receive direct refunds.
According to him, these payments would be credited toward the student’s second-year tuition fees.
“Because the same students are going to be continuing, going forward, as they go into their second year, what should have come to them before their academic fees for the first year will become a credit. This means that as they go to the second year, they wouldn’t have to pay,” he said.
Dr Apaak stated that the funds will be remitted directly to the universities on behalf of the students, based on calculations agreed upon by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF).
He explained that this approach aims to ensure accountability and avoid logistical challenges associated with direct reimbursements.
“The monies will never go to students directly. It will go to the universities on the basis of calculations in terms of the numbers and the amounts having been arrived at between the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), which is mandated to superintend tertiary education in Ghana and the Student Loan Trust Fund. It will be directly remitted to the universities on behalf of the students.”
The “No Fees Stress” initiative, launched by the government, is designed to alleviate the financial burden on first-year students entering public tertiary institutions.
As part of the programme, the SLTF announced plans on May 12 to reimburse academic user fees for first-year students enrolled in accredited diploma or degree programmes at public tertiary institutions for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, in a post on Wednesday, May 21, reported significant progress in the programme’s implementation.
He stated that as of May 21, 57,327 students have accessed the dedicated online portal, with 41,647 completing the registration process.
Mr Kwakye noted that this registration is a vital step in the reimbursement process, allowing the government to securely obtain students’ banking details and validate lists submitted by public tertiary institutions.
It thus remains unclear why the government will need the bank details of the students if the monies are to be paid directly to the schools, according to the Deputy Education Minister.