The government has secured a major financial boost for the education sector following the approval of a US$300 million financing package by the World Bank to support the implementation of the Transformative Secondary Education for Access, Results and Relevance for Jobs (STARR-J) Project.
The Ministry of Education announced the approval in a press statement issued on Monday, June 16, 2026, describing the initiative as a significant step toward transforming secondary education and ending the double-track system in Senior High Schools nationwide.
According to the Ministry, the STARR-J Project is designed to strengthen Ghana’s secondary education system by expanding access to education, improving the quality and relevance of learning, and addressing infrastructure challenges created by the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.
A major component of the project will focus on eliminating the double-track system, which was introduced to accommodate the increasing number of students enrolled under the Free SHS programme amid inadequate school infrastructure.
The Ministry stated that through strategic investments in classroom infrastructure, improved learning environments, and enhanced educational efficiency, the government is targeting a complete phase-out of the double-track system by 2027.
Speaking on the significance of the World Bank’s approval, Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, described the project as a critical investment in the Ghana’s future.
“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 Minister stated.
He further explained that the initiative would help create more learning opportunities for students, improve school conditions, and align secondary education more closely with the demands of the labour market.
According to him, the project will also directly address infrastructure deficits associated with the expansion of Free Secondary Education across the country.
The Ministry of Education also expressed appreciation to the World Bank Country Director, Robert Taliercio O’Brien, the World Bank education team, and the Ministry of Finance led by Cassiel Ato Forson for their support toward Ghana’s education transformation agenda.
The STARR-J Project is expected to play a pivotal role in improving educational outcomes and ensuring equitable access to quality secondary education for students across the country.
Officials say the initiative also forms part of broader efforts to equip Ghanaian students with the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to compete effectively in an increasingly global and technology-driven economy.
By 1960news.com
