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North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasizes the importance of providing funding for the non-academic-fees policy for first-year students.
He mentioned that back in 2016, former President John Mahama also directed the implementation of the Student Loan Plus initiative to help students facing challenges with paying their admission expenses.
At the NDC youth manifesto launch on August 12, the flagbearer announced that if elected in the December polls, he would implement a program where first-year tertiary students would be exempt from paying tuition fees.
Ablakwa stated that this is a government initiative aimed at reducing the financial burden on parents when it comes to paying for their children’s education.
Mr Ablakwa further stated that many students, despite meeting the necessary academic requirements, were unable to secure the needed finances.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Mr Ablakwa said, “I have heard people say, ‘Oh, you want them to get to level 100, and then they drop out after level 200.’ No, we are saying that getting in is a critical point. Once they are in, they are bona fide students. They fully qualify for all the opportunities available. We have the student loan. We have said we are going to increase the student loan so that they can apply for it.”
He stated that in the initially year, students will be given financial aid so they do not need to pay tuition fees, even after they graduate and enter the workforce.
Mr Ablakwa clarified that students will have access to the Student Loan Trust Scheme from the second year to the last year, as the government aims to expand the availability of these loans.
He said that the cost of this initiative has already been done. “The costing we have done is between 250 to 300 million cedis annually. We are saying two things must happen to the GETFund: we must uncap it, and we must stop collateralisation.”
NKONKONSA.com
