Bawumia outlines 12 ways he would expand educational opportunities for all Ghanaians

Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has unveiled his plan to transform Ghana’s education system, aiming to expand access and opportunities for all. 

Addressing the youth in a nationwide engagement from Accra on Sunday evening, Dr. Bawumia emphasised that education, skills training, and a youth-friendly economic environment would be the core of his vision to empower Ghana’s youth.

Dr. Bawumia underscored education as essential for national development and youth empowerment, committing to build on the NPP government’s achievements, including Free Senior High School (SHS) which has benefitted approximately 5.7 million students since its introduction in 2017. 

He outlined a 12-point plan aimed at removing financial and infrastructural barriers to education, while expanding opportunities at every level.

“Our goal is to make education accessible and inclusive for all,” Dr. Bawumia stated, noting that his policies would ensure that both secondary and tertiary education meet the evolving demands of the nation. The 12 measures he proposed to advance education in Ghana are as follows:

1. Increase Student Accommodation – Address the housing shortage at public universities and other tertiary institutions by expanding affordable student accommodation.

2. Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities – Introduce a scholarship programme to remove financial barriers for persons with disabilities, ensuring equal opportunities at the tertiary level.

3. Integrate Scholarship Databases – Unify scholarship management across public institutions to improve accessibility and oversight of available funding.

4. Expand Student Loan Scheme Eligibility – Extend student loan access to all post-secondary students, including those in certificate and diploma programmes.

5. Prioritise STEM Training – Allocate a significant portion of national scholarships to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, ensuring skills development aligns with national priorities.

6. Implement Centralised Applications Processing Service (CAPS) – Simplify the application process for tertiary education with a “one-application, one-payment” system.

7. Establish an Open University – Provide more flexible learning opportunities through an Open University system, expanding access to higher education across the country.

8. Protect and Enhance Free SHS/TVET – Continue to support Free SHS and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with additional funding to sustain and grow these transformative programmes.

9. Recruit and Support More Teachers – Hire more educators across all levels and improve their working conditions to ensure quality teaching.

10. Develop Infrastructure for Increased Enrolment – Invest in educational infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of students.

11. Offer Vehicle Incentives for Teachers – Provide teachers with incentives to purchase vehicles with engine capacities up to 1,800cc to improve their mobility and quality of life.

12. Continue Teacher Trainee Allowances – Sustain the teacher trainee allowance scheme to encourage more young people to enter the teaching profession.