GETFund takes over Free SHS financing – Haruna Iddrisu 

Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) will now be the main financier of the free senior high school policy and TVET services, in a major policy shift.

Speaking at the GTEC office in Accra on Wednesday, Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu explained that the move ensures sustainable funding for free SHS and reduces reliance on petroleum revenue.

“Since 2018, free senior high school was largely financed from petroleum revenues, but from 2026, the GETFund will provide full financing, with 42 billion cedis earmarked for this purpose,” he said.

The minister added that the broader education sector will receive a total allocation of 39.2 billion cedis to implement programs across basic, secondary, and tertiary education.

Of this, 33.76 billion cedis will come from government funds, 3.68 billion from internally generated resources, and 1.8 billion from development partners through loans and grants.

“This represents a 23 percent increase over the 2025 approved budget and reflects our commitment to expanding access and improving quality from basic to tertiary education,” he noted.

Addressing concerns over teacher shortages, Iddrisu announced that the cabinet had approved the recruitment of 6,100 additional teachers.

“This category of teachers, which belongs to the 2023 cohort, is adequately captured. Those currently on the streets should return to offices for audit and identification to be properly paid,” he said.

The minister emphasized that the 2026 budget demonstrates the government’s commitment to education as a driver of sustainable development.

“Education remains Ghana’s largest employer, and these allocations ensure we sustain access, improve quality, and provide necessary support for teachers and students alike,” Mr. Iddrisu stressed.