The World Bank has approved a $300 million financing package to support Ghana’s efforts to eliminate the double-track system in Senior High Schools by 2027.
The funding will be channelled through the Transformative Secondary Education for Access, Results and Relevance for Jobs (STARR-J) Project, a major education initiative designed to expand access to secondary education, improve learning outcomes and address infrastructure challenges arising from the implementation of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.
Announcing the approval, the Ministry of Education said the project will finance critical investments in educational infrastructure, improve learning conditions for students and teachers, and enhance the overall efficiency of the secondary education system.
According to the Ministry, one of the key objectives of the STARR-J Project is to support government efforts to phase out the double-track system through targeted interventions that increase school capacity and strengthen educational delivery nationwide.
Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Ghana’s future and the development of its human capital.
“This project is a major investment in Ghana’s growing youthful population and a strategic contribution to the country’s long-term human capital development and global competitiveness. It will help expand learning opportunities, improve school conditions, better align secondary education with the skills demanded by the labour market and, more importantly, address the infrastructure deficit associated with expanded access to Free Secondary Education,” he said.
The Ministry noted that the project is expected to improve both the quality and relevance of secondary education while ensuring that more students have access to safe and conducive learning environments.
It further expressed gratitude to the World Bank, the Ministry of Finance and other key stakeholders for their support in advancing reforms within Ghana’s education sector.
The STARR-J Project is expected to play a pivotal role in the government’s broader agenda of expanding equitable access to quality education and equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy.
