Ghana to upgrade 20 schools and build 16 new SHSs to end double-track system

Ghana is implementing a multi-pronged strategy to address the senior high school (SHS) placement crisis and end the double-track system by 2027. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced plans to upgrade 20 Category B schools to Category A status and construct 10 new model Category A institutions. This expansion is supported by a $300 million World Bank facility aimed at increasing capacity in high-demand schools.

President John Mahama, during a tour of the Upper West Region, confirmed that the government is also constructing 16 new senior high schools to reduce congestion. Additionally, the administration plans to transition rural schools in sparsely populated areas into boarding institutions to assist students who face long commutes.

In response to rumors, President Mahama clarified that there is no government policy to introduce Arabic or Chinese as compulsory subjects in public schools, noting that any curriculum changes require Cabinet approval. Meanwhile, the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has called for the removal of the 15% priority placement policy for private school students, labeling it discriminatory.