Mankranso Senior High School is set to join the ranks of Ghana’s top-tier secondary schools following its remarkable showing in the 2025 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), the Education Minister has announced.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu says government will elevate Mankranso SHS from Category C to Category A, describing the school’s first-ever march to the NSMQ semifinals as a national milestone worthy of recognition.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, November 19, Mr. Iddrisu said the school’s performance demonstrated exceptional academic potential despite long-standing infrastructural constraints.
“On my way here, I added Mankranso Senior High School to the list of Category A schools based on their performance at the 2025 National Science and Maths Quiz,” he said. “Given their deprivation, these students have shown admirable excellence, and the nation appreciates that effort.”
Located in the Ahafo Ano Southwest District of the Ashanti Region, Mankranso SHS has for years struggled with inadequate facilities challenges that have led some teachers to liken it to an “advanced JHS.” Yet the school defied expectations to compete fiercely on the national stage, earning widespread public admiration.
The Minister explained that the upgrade aligns with a broader restructuring of the secondary school classification system.
Under the new plan, 10 Category B schools will be elevated to Category A, while 10 Category C schools including Mankranso SHS will move up to Category B. Schools that demonstrate consistent excellence, he added, will receive targeted support.
He cited a similar example from Kade in the Eastern Region, where a student recently won the Best Science Student award despite the school lacking a science laboratory. “I’ll reward them with a laboratory into next year,” he assured.
Mr. Iddrisu also addressed systemic challenges within the sector, highlighting the lingering impact of the former double-track system. He argued that reduced contact hours had negatively affected learning outcomes.
“Many of the girls and boys spent more time at home and less time in school, and that necessarily contributed to the low quality of education,” he said.
To bridge these gaps, the Minister announced the launch of the Ghana Secondary Learning Improvement Programme, a new World Bank–supported initiative valued at US$180 million. A World Bank team is currently in Ghana assessing facilities and identifying stalled E-block projects for completion.
The government, he stressed, is committed to ensuring that schools like Mankranso SHS continue to rise with improved infrastructure, stronger support systems, and recognition that excellence can emerge from even the most disadvantaged environments.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
