Parliament has unanimously passed the landmark Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Amendment Bill, 2025, cementing legal backing for several key educational policies, most notably the provision of Free Tertiary Education for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and Free Education for Persons with Special Needs.

The passage of the bill today, Thursday, December 11, 2025, marks a significant legislative victory for social inclusion and access to education in Ghana, transforming long-standing policy commitments into legally protected entitlements.

The bill also backs the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy.

GETFund Act Amended for Inclusive Education

The primary objective of the GETFund Amendment Bill, 2025, is to adjust the original GETFund Act (2000, Act 581) to align the Fund's legal mandate with current government educational policies.

Key provisions now embedded in the law include:

• Free SHS Funding: The amendment ensures that the immensely popular Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy receives continuous and sustainable funding support directly from the GETFund.
• Tertiary Education for PWDs: This provision formally mandates the state to bear the full cost of tertiary education for all eligible Persons With Disabilities, eliminating a major financial barrier to higher learning for this demographic.
• Special Needs Education: The law now guarantees Free Education for Persons with Special Needs across all levels, ensuring that specialized institutions and supportive learning environments are adequately resourced to serve this vulnerable group.

The Socio-Economic Impact

The legislative change is expected to have a profound socio-economic impact, particularly for PWDs.

Data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) indicates that while PWDs constitute a significant portion of the population, their educational attainment levels remain disproportionately low compared to the general populace, often due to high costs and lack of accessible infrastructure.

The guaranteed funding from GETFund—which is sourced from a 2.5% value-added tax (VAT) component—is crucial for ensuring the durability of these social interventions, insulating them from annual budgetary uncertainties.

The commitment to PWDs and Special Needs persons aligns with Ghana's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4), which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education.

Focus on Implementation and Resource Allocation

While the passage of the bill is celebrated, attention now shifts to the effective implementation and transparent allocation of resources. Educational institutions, especially tertiary facilities and special schools, will require significant investment to upgrade infrastructure, procure necessary assistive technology, and train staff to accommodate the influx of students benefiting from the free education policies.

Stakeholders, including disability rights advocates and educational sector unions, are expected to closely monitor the Ministry of Education and the GETFund Secretariat to ensure that the allocated funds directly translate into quality, accessible learning environments for all beneficiaries.