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The Executive Director of Institute for Education Studies, Dr Peter Partey –Anti, says the “no fee stress policy” reiterated by the Minister Designate of Education, Mr Haruna Iddrissu, during his vetting process is not the ideal approach for the country.
According to him, the policy which seeks to make tertiary education free for first Year University students would result in the government subsidising students who were capable of paying their own fees, essentially wasting resources.
Speaking on a current affairs progamme on Accra-based Tv3, Television Station, monitored by the Ghanaian Times yesterday, the Executive Director suggested that the minister-designate should allocate resources to the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) in order to enable students who genuinely needed financial assistance access loans with flexible repayment terms.
Dr Partey -Anti emphasised that channelling resources to the Students Loan Trust Fund would have been a more effective approach to ensure the sustainability of the country’s resources.
Furthermore, he said the policy should be more targeted, ensuring that those who could afford tuition fees were not unnecessarily exempt from paying them.
This approach, he noted, would make the policy more efficient and equitable, as it would direct resources towards those who genuinely need financial assistance.
“I think the NDC was too excited getting into the 2024 elections and there are inefficiencies in the system and implementing such a policy requires strategic planning,” he emphasised.
For his part, the Member of Parliament for Guan Constituency, Fred Agbenyo, praised the government’s policy, calling it a well thought-out move by the party, based on his analysis.
Mr Agbenyo argued that the most challenging period for a student was typically the transition to tertiary education, specifically the initial entry point, where they faced new academic, social, and financial responsibilities.
“The promise that we made was that the students who have to to university for the first time will be sorted out and the continuing students would know how access their fees through student loan system.
However, he said, the policy would be properly shaped when the Finance Minister finally assumed office and resources were efficiently allocated to ensure its success.
Moreover, he emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Minister- designate of Education and experts in the field to ensure the policy’s long-term sustainability.
Commenting on student loan policy which would be made available for continuing students in the tertiary, Member of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team Mr Kwesi Botchway Junior, said there were a lot of challenges associated with accessing student loans.
“When I was a student it was very cumbersome accessing these student loans and it was about whom you know because it was a big process”, he said .
He, however, expressed optimism about the policy, saying that the policy, if successful would have far-reaching benefits for the entire nation and significantly improve the lives students.
BY AGNES OWUSU
