The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has lauded the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flagbearer John Dramani Mahama for the decision to fully absorb the fees of all freshers in tertiary institutions across the country next year if elected President again.
The policy, dubbed ‘Fa Ninyinaa’ was announced today, Tuesday, 1 December 2020 upon the recommendation of the NDC’s Education Policy Group in a statement signed by the party’s Chairman, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo.
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Additionally, the NDC indicated that the ‘Kyemupe’ policy, as cited in their People’s Manifesto, will be tailored to cover half of the school fees of continuing students.
The student group, which has been clamouring for the government to absorb their fees since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, also commended the NDC for its campaign promise “to make tertiary education free for all students living with disabilities”.
A statement signed by the NUGS General Secretary, Mr Divine Edem Kwadzodeh, on 1 December 2020, indicated that the union was elated that the main opposition party is clear on its intended source of funding for the implementation of the outlined programmes.
“Indeed, the National Union of Ghana Students has, since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, variously advocated the absorption of fees for tertiary students to help mitigate the economic impact the pandemic has had on working families and students.
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“It is, therefore, commendable on the part of the National Democratic Congress and its flagbearer to heed the calls by students of this country and announce such progressive policies aimed at ensuring universal access to tertiary education for all, even as the pandemic rages on.
“The union has also taken note of the proposal to make tertiary education free for all students living with disabilities, and wishes to commend the NDC for the announcement of the same,” it added.
The statement continued: “The union is particularly happy that a clear funding source (i.e. the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) sourced from Ghana’s oil revenues), for these programmes, has been announced by the flagbearer of the NDC. This, we believe, provides enough clarity as to the source of funds for the implementation of these programmes”.
The student group further pledged to ensure that the NDC and its flagbearer fulfil and implement their proposed policies if they are elected into office in the 7 December polls.
“The National Union of Ghana Students will hold the NDC and its flagbearer accountable in the fulfilment of these policy propositions should they win the forthcoming elections and will demand that they are implemented to the benefit and satisfaction of the good tertiary students of this country,” the statement further noted.
