The World Bank has approved a $300 million financing package to support Ghana’s efforts to eliminate the double-track system in secondary schools by 2027, providing a significant boost to the government’s education reform agenda.
The funding will support the implementation of the Transformative Secondary Education for Access, Results and Relevance for Jobs (STARR-J) Project, an initiative aimed at expanding access to secondary education, improving learning outcomes and addressing infrastructure constraints created by the expansion of the Free Senior High School program.
The Ministry of Education announced the approval, describing the project as a major intervention designed to strengthen the country’s secondary education system while aligning learning outcomes more closely with labor market needs.
A central objective of the project is to support the government’s plan to phase out the double-track system, which was introduced to accommodate rising student enrolment following the implementation of free secondary education.
The arrangement, which allows students to attend school in alternating academic calendars due to limited classroom space, has been the subject of debate since its introduction, with policymakers seeking a long-term solution through expanded infrastructure and increased capacity.
According to the Ministry, targeted investments under the STARR-J Project will improve school facilities, enhance learning conditions and strengthen education system management, enabling a full transition away from the double-track model within the next year.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu said the project represents an investment in Ghana’s human capital and future economic competitiveness.
“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. It will help expand learning opportunities, improve school conditions, better align secondary education with the skills demanded by the labour market, and, more importantly, respond to the infrastructure deficit associated with expanded access to Free Secondary Education.”
The financing comes as Ghana seeks to improve educational outcomes while preparing a growing youth population for employment in an increasingly competitive global economy.
Beyond infrastructure expansion, the project is expected to focus on improving the relevance and quality of secondary education by strengthening skills development and ensuring graduates are better equipped for the labor market.
The Ministry of Education thanked the World Bank, led in Ghana by Country Director Robert Taliercio O’Brien, as well as the Ministry of Finance under Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, for supporting the initiative.
The approval marks one of the largest recent investments in Ghana’s education sector and underscores continued backing from development partners for reforms aimed at expanding access to quality education while addressing capacity challenges created by rising enrollment.
Government officials say the STARR-J Project will play a critical role in ensuring equitable access to secondary education and equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to the country’s long-term economic development.
