The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu has announced plans to establish a transparent alumni fund designed to provide urgent support to secondary schools across Ghana.

Speaking at the launch of the 2025 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) held in Accra, the Minister revealed that the fund would serve as a secure and open account, allowing Ghanaians both at home and abroad to contribute towards their alma mater.

“I have been contemplating establishing an alumni fund for the republic, and I want this fund to be a transparent account that any Ghanaian, anywhere, who wants to make a contribution back to his alma mater will have the comfort to make the contribution into the alumni fund,” he explained.

The Minister assured that the Ghana Education Service (GES) would collaborate closely to formally launch the fund as part of the government’s educational initiatives under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

Minister Iddrisu shared his motivation for the fund, reflecting on his recent experience as Education Minister.

“If there is an emergency for instance, if a rainstorm has affected Achimota School, a girls’ dormitory is burnt, or there is a storm in Sewhi, Wiawso, or Bunprugu as Minister, I am immediately helpless. Such intervention has to be done within a week or two to avoid distorting the academic calendar. Yet, there is no recourse to any funding source to deal with these exigencies,” the Minister noted.

He expressed confidence that the alumni fund would encourage many former students to give back to their schools.

• Read also: 2025 NSMQ launched; Ofori Panyin SHS, Kpando SHS and Awe SHTS to kickstart the contest

“My faith and belief is that if we launch an alumni fund, many people would want to give back to their alma mater and benefit the schools,” he said.

To ensure accountability,he noted that the fund will publish regular financial reports in national newspapers every three months, allowing contributors to see how their donations are being used.

The initiative, he emphasised, aims to provide a swift and reliable source of funding for schools facing emergencies, thereby safeguarding students’ education and preventing disruption to the academic calendar.

Meanwhile, the 2025 edition of the NSMQ has officially been launched, with the eagerly awaited balloting exercise determining the match-ups for this year’s competition.

The grand kickoff event on Wednesday, October 15, attended by education stakeholders, students, and media personnel, set the stage for what promises to be a fierce contest showcasing the brightest minds from senior high schools across the country.

This year’s contest boasts a record-breaking 174 participating schools, the highest number in the quiz’s history.

The competition will commence with the preliminary stage running from 20 to 24 October, with Ofori Panyin Senior High School, Kpando Senior High School, and Awe Senior High Technical School slated to kick off the contest.