Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has announced 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 beginning January 2026.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, November 19, the Minister described the initiative as “what may be the best news in the 2026 budget for President Mahama and for the Ghanaian people.”

He explained that the decision follows his recent visits to the Akropong School for the Blind and other special and inclusive institutions, where he witnessed the difficulties learners continue to 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 the Cabinet seeking approval to introduce free education 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 stated.

He added that, pending Cabinet and presidential approval, the policy is expected to take effect on January 1, 2026. The government, he noted, intends to “provide for the needs of all learners with special needs… including the provision of devices for persons who are visually impaired, those with hearing difficulties, and others.”

During his visit to Akropong, the Minister observed that many special schools still rely heavily on government grants for feeding.

“What I noticed as I went to Akropong was that even feeding, they still depended on government grants. That is not good enough,” he said, adding 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 significant restructuring of how special education will be financed, indicating 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 noted.

“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 believes the measures are forward-looking and aligned with national priorities.