Total allocation of Book and Re­search Allowance to the tertiary sec­tor has ballooned from GH¢428mil­lion in 2023 to GH¢712million in 2025, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu has revealed.

Out of this, he said that of the Colleges of Education had more than tripled, moving from GH¢­31million in the same period to GH¢101million this year alone.

“Indeed, Book and Research Allowances for the Colleges had more than tripled moving from GH¢31 million in 2023 to GH¢101 million this year, with total allocations to the tertia­ry sector rising from GH¢428 million to GH¢712 million,” emphasised.

Mr Iddrisu disclosed this when he inaugurated the Governing Councils of 10 Colleges of Edu­cation in Accra on Friday.

The Colleges included: Akatsi College of Education, Dambai College of Education, St Francis College of Education, Foso Col­lege of Education, Our Lady of Apostles College of Education, Holy Child College of Educa­tion, Kibi College of Education, Presbyterian Women’s College of Education, Seventh Day Adven­tist College of Education and St Louis College of Education.

MrIddrisu said faculty mem­bers and staff of all 46 Colleges of Education had been migrated to university status, settling ar­rears from the enhanced remu­neration scheme introduced in January 2023.

While acknowledging bud­getary limitations in hiring new staff, the Minister urged mem­bers of the Council to maximise available resources in delivering quality training.

“Government is doing its best for you, so we expect you to be motivated to give your best in training our young people,” he said.

Mr Iddrisu said the govern­ment had commenced with the necessary processes to grant full autonomy to all 46 Colleges of Education across the country.

According to him, not only would the autonomy elevate these colleges to university status, but would also help address issues of school fees and feeding among other things.

“The government is initiating processes to grant autonomy to Colleges of Education. A bill to this effect is being processed for parliamentary consideration. Upon the bill’s approval, the sta­tus of Colleges of Education will be elevated to university status,” he emphasised.

The Minister explained that in line with all public universities government would cover the fees of first-year students under its policy programme, ‘no fees stress’ when the colleges finally gain their autonomy.

He said ele­vating Colleges of Education to university status would necessitate government addressing the issue of stu­dent feeding among others.

Mr Iddrisu said the Colleges in partnership with their affiliate universities must develop under­graduate programmes in other areas in addition to their core mandate of education.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening teacher education through strategic investments in infrastructure, faculty develop­ment, and welfare.

He noted that more than GH¢410 million had been released this year to complete stalled hostel projects across the 46 Colleges of Education.

In addition, he said GH¢200 million had been allocated for faculty development, staff sup­port, and student feeding.

Mr Iddrisu said it was the government’s long-term vision to transforming all public Colleges of Education into autonomous University Colleges capable of running diverse academic pro­grammes.