The Government of Ghana has taken a major step towards eliminating the Senior High School (SHS) double-track system after Cabinet approved an infrastructure programme worth approximately $331 million. The initiative forms part of the STARR-J Programme, which is being supported by the World Bank to improve access to quality secondary education and address infrastructure deficits in schools.
The announcement was made by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu during the Government Accountability Series in Accra. According to the minister, the programme will benefit about 210 senior high, technical and vocational schools nationwide. Out of these, 150 schools—comprising 112 senior high schools and 38 technical and vocational institutions—will undergo rehabilitation to improve learning conditions and increase student capacity.
As part of the expansion plan, the government intends to upgrade 30 Category C schools to Category B and 20 Category B schools to Category A. Additional support through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is expected from 2027 to further improve Category A schools and ensure they can accommodate increasing student enrolment.
The double-track system was introduced in 2018 as a temporary solution to overcrowding following the implementation of the Free SHS policy. While it enabled more students to access secondary education, it also led to concerns about reduced instructional time, irregular academic calendars, and pressure on school infrastructure. The new investment is expected to provide enough classrooms, dormitories, laboratories, and other facilities to allow schools to return to a single-track academic calendar.
During the same briefing, the Education Minister outlined several other reforms aimed at strengthening Ghana's education sector. These include plans to establish a dedicated TVET Fund, revise the basic school curriculum to incorporate coding, artificial intelligence, and electronics, construct teacher accommodation nationwide, and increase support for learners with special educational needs. He also indicated that the government is reviewing the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) to improve fairness and transparency in school placements.
Education stakeholders have largely welcomed the approval of the infrastructure programme, describing it as a significant investment in the future of Ghana's education system. Many believe that ending the double-track system will create a more stable academic calendar, improve teaching and learning, and provide students with a better overall educational experience.
Cabinet's approval of the $331 million STARR-J infrastructure programme marks a significant milestone in Ghana's efforts to phase out the SHS double-track system. By investing in school infrastructure and expanding educational facilities nationwide, the government aims to improve learning conditions and ensure that every student has access to quality secondary education under a single-track system. If implemented successfully, the initiative could represent one of the most important reforms in Ghana's education sector in recent years.