The World Bank has approved a US$300 million financing package to support Ghana’s efforts to improve secondary education delivery and end the double-track system in Senior High Schools across the country.
The Ministry of Education, in a press statement dated June 16, 2026, said the funding will support the implementation of the Transformative Secondary Education for Access, Results and Jobs (STARR-J) Project, which is aimed at expanding access, improving learning outcomes and addressing infrastructure challenges within the secondary education sector.
According to the Ministry, the STARR-J Project is designed to strengthen Ghana’s secondary education system by improving school infrastructure, enhancing learning conditions and making education more relevant to the needs of the labour market.
A key objective of the project is to support the government’s plan to end the double-track system by 2027 through targeted investments in educational facilities and improved system efficiency.
The Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, described the approval as a significant investment in Ghana’s youth and a contribution to the country’s long-term human capital development.
“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,” the statement quoted the Minister as saying.
He added that the initiative would help expand learning opportunities, improve school conditions, align secondary education with labour market demands and address infrastructure deficits linked to the expansion of Free Senior High School (Free SHS).
The Ministry expressed appreciation to the World Bank Country Director, Robert Taliercio O’Brien, the World Bank education team, and the Ministry of Finance led by Dr Cassiel Ato Forson for their support towards improving Ghana’s education sector.
The government said the STARR-J Project reinforces its commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality secondary education and equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the global economy.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
