The World Bank has approved a $300 million financing package to support Ghana’s efforts to fully phase out the double-track system in Senior High Schools (SHS) by 2027.
The funding will support the implementation of the Transformative Secondary Education for Access, Results and Relevance for Jobs (STARR-J) Project, a major education reform initiative aimed at expanding access, improving learning outcomes, and addressing infrastructure challenges linked to the Free SHS policy.
According to the Ministry of Education, the project will focus on upgrading school infrastructure, improving learning conditions, and enhancing the overall efficiency of the secondary education system.
A key objective of the STARR-J initiative is to eliminate the double-track system by increasing school capacity and ensuring more students have access to uninterrupted academic calendars.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu described the project as a strategic investment in Ghana’s future workforce and 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 added that the programme will help expand learning opportunities, improve school conditions, and better align secondary education with labour market demands while addressing infrastructure gaps created by expanded access to Free SHS.
The Ministry of Education expressed appreciation to the World Bank, the Ministry of Finance, and other stakeholders for supporting efforts to transform the education sector.
The STARR-J Project is expected to play a key role in improving the quality and relevance of secondary education while ensuring equitable access to learning facilities across the country.
