President Mahama Announces $300m SHS Upgrade Programme To End Double-Track System

WRITTEN BY JOSHUA NARH 

President John Dramani Mahama has announced a $300 million World Bank-supported programme to upgrade 50 senior high schools across the country, as government intensifies efforts to phase out the double-track system by 2027.

The initiative, tagged as the Secondary Education Reform for Access, Results and Jobs (STARR-J) programme, is expected to improve infrastructure, expand access to secondary education and enhance the quality of teaching and learning in selected schools. 

Speaking during the commissioning of a PET scan facility at the Swedish Ghana Medical Centre in Accra on Wednesday, President Mahama said the programme forms part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening Ghana’s education sector. 

According to the President, the project will focus largely on Category C schools, many of which continue to struggle with inadequate classrooms, dormitories, laboratories and other critical infrastructure. He said improving these schools would help create enough space to absorb students under a single-track system. 

The double-track system was introduced in 2018 under the Free Senior High School policy to manage increased enrolment and reduce congestion in schools. While the policy expanded access to education, it has faced criticism over shortened contact hours, academic pressure and disruptions to the school calendar.

President Mahama said his government intends to end the system within the coming year through targeted investments in infrastructure and educational reforms. 

He noted that the World Bank facility would support the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, dormitories, science laboratories, ICT centres and teacher accommodation in the beneficiary schools.

The President also indicated that the programme would place emphasis on improving equity in education by ensuring students in less-endowed schools receive better learning conditions and opportunities.