The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has confirmed that it awarded scholarships to all special needs students who applied for financial support in tertiary institutions in 2023.
This comes amid increasing focus on scholarships for persons with disabilities (PWDs), with both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) pledging to expand these opportunities if elected in the upcoming elections.
GETFund, speaking at the 2024 National Education Week exhibition, highlighted its commitment to increasing access to education through a significant expansion of local scholarships.
The number of scholarship recipients has grown from 300 in 2016 to 5,000 in 2023, with an emphasis on equity and aligning with national priorities like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
In an interview with Citi News, Isaac Asiedu-Odei, GETFund’s Public Relations Officer, reiterated the government’s commitment to providing equal educational opportunities, especially for students with disabilities.
He confirmed that in 2023, all special needs students were granted scholarships after verification from their respective schools.
GETFund also showcased its contributions to Ghana’s education sector over the past seven years, including the completion of 3,077 infrastructure projects across all education levels.
Responding to concerns about project abandonment, GETFund clarified that 1,800 out of 3,800 inherited projects had been completed.
Meanwhile, Professor Yayra Dzakadzie, Director-General of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), revealed that the results of the 2024 standardized tests would soon be released to help students identify areas for improvement.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in a statement read on his behalf, highlighted key educational initiatives like Free SHS and TVET programs, which have increased access to education, particularly in underserved communities.
The National Education Week, launched in Accra, serves as a platform to assess Ghana’s educational progress and share best practices. The event, themed “The Education Transformation Agenda: Evidence From 2017,” will run throughout the week.
