President John Dramani Mahama has outlined ambitious plans to expand access to education and improve student welfare during his 2026 State of the Nation Address on Friday, projecting that 220,000 first-year tertiary students will benefit from the No-Fee-Stress policy this year.
He noted that 152,698 students benefited from the initiative in the 2025 academic year, and revealed that law students would now be included in the student loan scheme to increase access to legal education.
To strengthen learning infrastructure, the government plans to construct 600 new schools across kindergarten, primary, and junior high levels, and develop six regional TVET centres of excellence to complement existing facilities. President Mahama also announced the construction of 50,000 housing units for teachers to improve their working and living conditions.
The President reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the Free Senior High School programme, with additional STEM schools now operational in more regions. Curriculum reviews are ongoing to align education with industry needs.
Other student welfare initiatives highlighted include the distribution of 12.2 million sanitary pads to support school attendance among girls and an increase in daily feeding grants for students in public special schools from GH₵8.00 to GH₵15.00.
These measures, President Mahama stated, aim to enhance access, retention, and quality in education while supporting teachers and students across the country.
