The World Bank has approved a $300 million financing package to support Ghana’s efforts to phase out the double-track system in senior high schools and improve access to quality secondary education nationwide.
The funding will be used to implement the Transformative Secondary Education for Access, Results and Relevance for Jobs (STARR-J) Project, a major initiative aimed at addressing infrastructure challenges and strengthening the country’s secondary education sector.
According to the Ministry of Education, the project is designed to expand access to secondary education, improve learning conditions, enhance educational quality and relevance, and boost the overall efficiency of the education system.
A major goal of the STARR-J Project is to help eliminate the double-track system, which was introduced under the Free SHS policy to accommodate rising student enrolment.
The Ministry said targeted investments in classroom infrastructure, school facilities and learning environments are expected to create enough capacity for all students, allowing Ghana to fully phase out the double-track system by 2027.
Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu described the approval as a significant step toward strengthening Ghana’s 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,” he said.
He noted that the initiative would not only improve educational access and learning conditions but also better align education with labour market demands while addressing infrastructure pressures created by increased enrolment.
The Ministry also expressed gratitude to the World Bank, its Country Director Robert Taliercio O’Brien, and the Ministry of Finance led by Cassiel Ato Forson for their support in securing the funding.
Officials believe the project will accelerate efforts to modernise secondary school infrastructure, improve learning outcomes and equip students with the skills needed to compete in a rapidly changing global economy.
The approval is expected to provide a major boost to the government’s education agenda and bring Ghana closer to ending the double-track system within the next year.
