Parliament has unanimously approved the Ghana Education Trust Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2025, a landmark move aimed at securing long-term, sustainable funding for Ghana’s free secondary and tertiary education programmes.

The amendment broadens the mandate of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and introduces enhanced support for persons with disabilities and learners with special needs.

The Bill amends Act 581 of 2000, the law that originally established the GETFund.

Key provisions include dedicated financial backing for free secondary education, targeted assistance to improve access to tertiary education for persons with disabilities, and expanded funding for inclusive learning environments.

The amendment also proposes making the GETFund Levy input tax deductible—an incentive meant to encourage greater private-sector contributions.

The reforms come at a time when Ghana’s educational system is undergoing rapid expansion, heightening pressure on infrastructure and learning resources.

Lawmakers argued that although the GETFund has been instrumental in developing educational facilities nationwide, it is no longer sufficient to meet the growing demand.

Presenting the Bill, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrissu, said the amendment would “give finality to the legal funding of free secondary education, address infrastructural deficits, and promote inclusivity.”

He noted that the enhanced fund will ease financial pressure on households, improve school attendance, and boost learning outcomes—particularly for students with disabilities and those with special needs.

Although the House passed the Bill unanimously, some Minority MPs took the opportunity to acknowledge the previous administration for initiating the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, stressing the need to “give credit where it is due.”

The Majority, however, underscored that the amendment is essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s free education agenda.

They maintained that the Bill provides the legal and financial framework needed to safeguard and expand ongoing education reforms.