The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled major educational initiatives as part of their campaign, including a promise to eliminate academic fees for all first-year university students and to extend the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy to private institutions.
These commitments were shared by Festus Mwingsong Akyuuro, a Public Relations consultant and member of the NDC Youth Manifesto team, during the party’s campaign launch at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
Akyuuro emphasized the urgent need for better funding in the secondary education system, saying, “While promises to enhance secondary education have been made, there’s been a lack of proper financing. You can’t claim this as your greatest achievement without securing the necessary funds, and it’s crucial to complete the construction of the E-blocks.”
Former President John Mahama, leading the NDC campaign, has also pledged to modernize Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by incorporating advanced facilities like fabrication labs with 3D printers and other cutting-edge technology.
Mahama’s educational plans include broadening the Free SHS programme to include private senior high schools. Akyuuro explained, “There are students who cannot attend public basic schools, yet we have vacant private senior high schools. If we can educate them at the same cost as public schools, let’s send them there and pay the same amount.”
As part of the “No Fees Stress” initiative, the NDC is also promising that all first-year university students will be exempt from paying academic fees. “No more academic fees for first-year students. We’ve heard too many stories of students with outstanding results who struggle to afford university. Under the next NDC administration, that will be a thing of the past,” Akyuuro assured.
Additionally, the NDC plans to revitalize the student loan scheme under the Student Loan Trust Plus, ensuring that students who struggle to pay their fees after their first year can still benefit from the programme.
