Education Minister Urges Review of Teacher Trainee Allowance Amid College Upgrades

 

We Can’t Upgrade Colleges and Still Pay Allowances – Education Minister Explains


Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for a careful review of student funding in training colleges, emphasizing the need to avoid duplication in budgetary allocations. 

Speaking at the inauguration of the governing councils for Colleges of Education in Accra on August 21, 2025, the Minister highlighted the challenges of simultaneously providing feeding allowances to students while also covering their tuition under the “No Fees Stress” policy.

According to Hon. Iddrisu, continuing both payments could place undue pressure on the education sector’s budget. He noted that first-year students in Colleges of Education may receive both feeding allowances and tuition support, creating potential overlaps. “We cannot upgrade colleges and still have issues with feeding students. Let’s have a national conversation on it. If a student is entitled to 400 to 500 cedis allowance and we also implement the ‘No Fees Stress’ policy, we have to carefully assess how to avoid duplication,” he said.

The Minister commended the “No Fees Stress” policy as one of the most impactful initiatives introduced during President Mahama’s tenure. Looking ahead, he suggested that dedicated resources, including revenues from oil, could be directed to sustain the policy while also establishing a scholarship and bursary authority to strengthen the country’s human capital.

Beyond tuition and allowances, Hon. Iddrisu addressed other financial pressures in tertiary education. Lecturers have raised concerns about Book and Research Allowances, and the government has earmarked over GHS 100 million this year for payments, compared to GHS 31 million last year for 46 Colleges of Education. “I want stakeholders to understand the financial burden this entails,” he said, noting that total expenditure in the tertiary sector rose from GHS 428 million in 2024 to a projected GHS 712 million in 2025.

Infrastructure development also featured prominently in his remarks. The Minister confirmed that the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has set aside GHS 410 million to complete stalled projects across tertiary institutions. Additionally, he announced plans to absorb three additional Colleges of Education, Savannah College of Education, Ghana Muslim Mission College, and Christ the Teacher College, into the public system, expanding access and strengthening teacher training nationwide.

Hon. Iddrisu’s address underscores the government’s commitment to advancing tertiary education while ensuring sustainable and equitable management of student funding. He called for open discussions to develop coherent policies that support teacher trainees and maximize resources for the growth and development of Colleges of Education.



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