Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has unveiled an ambitious plan to expand government support for learners with special needs nationwide, including a proposal to introduce free education across all special and integrated schools starting January 2026.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, November 19, Minister Iddrisu described the initiative as “what may be the best news in the 2026 budget for President Mahama and for the Ghanaian people.”
The Minister said the decision follows recent visits to the Akropong School for the Blind and other special and inclusive institutions, where he witnessed the challenges learners face.
“I visited the Akuapim Akropong School for the Blind, as well as several other special and inclusive schools. What I witnessed there…” he said.
Mr. Iddrisu disclosed that he has submitted a comprehensive policy paper to Cabinet seeking approval to make education free for all learners in special and integrated schools.
“I have submitted a comprehensive policy paper to Cabinet to look at the possibility of introducing free education for all learners in special and integrated schools across the country,” he said.
Pending Cabinet and presidential approval, the policy is expected to take effect on January 1, 2026. The government aims to meet the needs of learners with special needs, including providing devices for persons who are visually impaired, those with hearing difficulties, and others.
“What I noticed as I went to Akropong was that even feeding, they still depended on government grants. That is not good enough,” the Minister said.
He added that the government will extend the School Feeding Programme to all special needs and integrated schools.
“For me, that will be the best intervention for meeting the needs of distressed, marginalised learners in the provision of our educational system,” he explained.
As part of the new measures, Mr. Iddrisu has directed the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to allocate a minimum of GH¢65 million to support programmes for learners with special needs.
“Accordingly, I’ve requested and directed GETFund to make a minimum allocation of 65 million Ghana cedis to support the initiative of supporting all learners with special needs,” he said.
He further announced a restructuring of special education financing, noting that GETFund will now assume a central role.
“GETFund will now essentially be responsible for the financing of free senior high school education, free tertiary education for all persons with disability, and free education for persons with special needs,” he explained.
“All we are doing is to offload the financing of that from the Consolidated Fund into the Ghana Education Trust Fund. The law anticipated that even in its original proposition,” he added.
Mr. Iddrisu described the 2026 budget as “bold and strategic,” emphasising that the government’s measures are forward-looking and aligned with national priorities.
READ ALSO: