In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) since beginning his second term, President John Dramani Mahama unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to provide free tertiary education for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Under the new policy, all PWDs in Ghana will be exempt from paying fees for their entire four-year university education.
This initiative is an extension of the President’s broader policy offering free tertiary education to Level 100 students. While all students will benefit from free first-year education, PWDs will enjoy the benefit throughout their entire university program.
President Mahama emphasized his administration’s commitment to creating equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities to pursue their academic and professional goals.
Addressing criticisms from the minority, who have labeled him as opposed to the Free Senior High School (SHS) program since 2016, Mahama clarified that he has no intention of canceling the policy. Instead, he plans to strengthen it by improving implementation strategies.
One key change will be the abolition of the double-track system, with a return to a single-track system. To support this transition, the President announced plans to accelerate the construction of new school buildings across the country.
The announcement has been met with widespread approval, particularly from advocates for disability rights and education reform, who see it as a significant step toward inclusivity and equal access to education.
Source: NewsandVibes.com
