Caretaker Finance Minister, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has revealed that government will absorb the examination registration fees of 2021 final year students in public Junior High Schools.

Reading the 2021 budget in Parliament, Friday, he stated that a total of 416,066 candidates will benefit from this initiative.

This, he said, forms part of government measures to ensure that the burden on parents is reduced amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Mr Speaker, Government in 2020, absorbed the examination registration fees for the 403,878 candidates from public Junior High Schools across the country."

"In 2021, the registration fee for 416,066 candidates from public Junior High Schools will also be absorbed,” Mr Kyei Mensah said.

This comes after President Akufo-Addo announced on Tuesday that the government has begun absorbing registration fees for candidates writing the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in public schools across the country.

According to the President, the absorption of WASSCE registration fees forms part of several interventions by his government at the Senior High School level.

The Caretaker Finance Minister added that efforts are being made to ensure that educational infrastructural projects are undertaken in basic schools across the country to ensure effective teaching and learning.

“Mr Speaker, in recognition of the important role of infrastructure in the quest to provide basic education for all children a total number of 195 basic education projects were completed in 2020.

"In 2021, Government will continue with these ongoing infrastructure projects,” he said.