Parliament has unanimously passed the landmark Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Amendment Bill, 2025, providing full legal backing for major national education policies, including Free Senior High School (Free SHS), Free Tertiary Education for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), and Free Education for Persons with Special Needs.
The historic passage on Thursday, December 11, 2025, marks a transformative moment in Ghana’s educational landscape, turning long-standing policy commitments into enforceable legal entitlements aimed at deepening social inclusion and expanding equitable access to education.
GETFund Act Amended to Support Modern Educational Needs
The amendment revises the original GETFund Act (2000, Act 581) to align the Fund’s mandate with current government priorities. The key provisions embedded in the newly passed bill include:
1. Guaranteed Funding for Free SHS
The amendment secures sustainable, continuous financial support for the Free SHS policy, one of Ghana’s largest social interventions, ensuring that its implementation is not left vulnerable to annual budget fluctuations.
2. Free Tertiary Education for PWDs
For the first time, the law mandates the state to fully fund tertiary education for all eligible Persons With Disabilities, removing one of the major barriers PWDs face in accessing higher education.
3. Free Education for Persons with Special Needs
The amendment guarantees free education for Special Needs persons across all levels, ensuring that specialized institutions, assistive technologies, and tailored learning environments receive adequate resources.
A Major Boost for Inclusive Growth
The socio-economic implications of this legislation are far-reaching, particularly for PWDs. Data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) consistently shows lower educational attainment among PWDs due to financial constraints and inadequate accessibility in learning environments.
With GETFund financing, sourced from the 2.5% VAT allocation, these educational guarantees are now insulated from unpredictable budget cycles, ensuring long-term sustainability.
The move aligns with Ghana’s commitments under:
- The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and
- Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which emphasizes inclusive and equitable quality education.
Implementation Now in Focus
While the passage of the GETFund Amendment Bill has been widely celebrated, attention now turns to implementation. Tertiary institutions and special schools across the country will require significant upgrades, including:
- Improved accessible infrastructure
- Assistive learning technology
- Continuous staff training
- Expanded capacity to accommodate increased enrollment
Civil society organisations, disability rights groups, and educational unions are expected to monitor how the Ministry of Education and GETFund Secretariat allocate resources to ensure that the legal reforms translate into real accessibility and quality learning for beneficiaries.
