Bii-Kunuto Education Fund: Disability must never block academic ambition – Dr Apaak

Persons living with disabilities must be supported to pursue higher education without financial or institutional barriers, Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Abas Apaak has said.

Dr Apaak made the remarks on Saturday at the launch of the Bii-Kunuto Education Fund at the Tang Palace Hotel in Accra, where he spoke on behalf of the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, to traditional leaders, education stakeholders, parents, and students.

He said government policy is firmly anchored in the principle that disability should not limit academic potential or national contribution.

“Disability must never become a barrier to academic aspiration or national contribution,” Dr Apaak stated, stressing that inclusive education remains central to Ghana’s development agenda.

According to him, the government’s commitment to Free Tertiary Education for Persons Living with Disabilities reflects a broader effort to protect vulnerable groups within the education system.

He explained that education financing must be structured to lift constraints rather than reinforce inequality.

“Education is the bridge between poverty and productivity, between exclusion and participation, and between inherited circumstance and earned opportunity,” he said.

Dr Apaak noted that support for students with disabilities complements other major interventions aimed at widening access and improving equity. He referenced the No Fee Stress Policy, under which the government absorbs first-year academic facility user fees for students admitted into public tertiary institutions.

“This intervention relieves parents and guardians of immediate financial pressure and ensures that admission letters translate into actual enrolment,” he added.

He also highlighted reforms in scholarship administration, describing the passage of the Scholarship Authority Bill as a move away from discretion and unequal access.

“Government has replaced fragmentation with coordination, discretion with equity, and privilege with fairness,” he said, noting that scholarships must reach those who genuinely need them.

Dr Apaak further pointed to improvements in the Free Senior High School programme, including its extension to selected private schools in underserved areas, as evidence of the government’s inclusive approach.

“This integrated system ensures equity, choice and inclusion, while safeguarding standards and sustainability,” he stated.

Touching on the Bii-Kunuto Education Fund, Dr Apaak said private initiatives play a critical role in strengthening access for students facing financial hardship.

“The strongest nations are built when public commitment is reinforced by private conscience,” he said.

He urged beneficiaries, particularly persons living with disabilities, to view educational support as a responsibility to excel and contribute meaningfully to national development.