Ghana Education Ministry Announces GH"100m for Special Needs Education as SLTF Sets July 15 Loan Deadline

In a series of major updates for Ghana's education sector, the government has announced a significant funding boost for special needs education alongside a critical deadline for tertiary student loan applications. The Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) has officially set Wednesday, July 15, 2026, as the final date for the 2025/2026 academic year application portal. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Education has unveiled a landmark policy making special needs education free across the country, supported by a substantial annual financial commitment designed to enhance inclusivity and accessibility for learners with disabilities.

The SLTF deadline applies to both the Regular Students Loan and the Students Loan Plus schemes. To date, the Trust Fund has demonstrated a strong commitment to tertiary financing, having disbursed GH₵ 170,493,187.50 to 47,988 beneficiaries through the Regular Students Loan program. An additional GH₵ 17,205,184.13 has been allocated to 1,426 students under the Students Loan Plus initiative, which specifically supports law students and other specialized categories. Officials have urged applicants to complete their submissions promptly to facilitate timely processing and to prevent the system congestion that often accompanies last-minute filings.

Parallel to these financial aid updates, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced that special needs education for persons with disabilities is now free, covering tuition, accommodation, and assistive devices through to the tertiary level. To sustain this initiative, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) will allocate GH₵ 100 million annually starting in 2027. This funding is intended to support approximately 9,000 learners currently enrolled in Ghana's 39 public special and integrated schools. As an immediate measure to improve student welfare, the government has also increased the daily feeding grant for special school students to GH₵ 15 and dedicated GH₵ 40 million specifically for the procurement of assistive devices.

The disability community has reacted with high praise for these developments. Joseph Atsu Homadzi, representing the community, described the policy as a groundbreaking move toward true educational equity. He emphasized that this initiative addresses historical funding gaps and urged parents of children with disabilities to take full advantage of these new opportunities. The policy forms part of a broader social intervention strategy aimed at ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind in the nation's pursuit of quality education for all.

These collective measures represent a dual approach to strengthening the Ghanaian education system: by removing the financial barriers to higher education through the SLTF and ensuring that learners with special needs receive the specialized support they require. As the July 15 deadline approaches, the SLTF continues to monitor applications to ensure that no eligible student is excluded from financial support for the upcoming academic cycle, while the Ministry shifts its focus toward the long-term implementation of the new special needs funding framework.