Ghana Unveils $180 Million Education Project to End Double-Track System

Accra: Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, announced the rollout of the Ghana Secondary Learning Improvement Programme (GSLIP), a two-year project supported by the World Bank and valued at $180 million, which aims to eliminate the double-track system in secondary education. According to Ghana News Agency, the Minister stated that a total of GHS 1.1 billion has been allocated under the GSLIP for infrastructure expansion and quality improvement by 2026. This includes the expansion of Category A schools, upgrading 10 schools from Category B to Category A, upgrading 30 schools from Category C to Category B, and completing 30 Community Day Senior High Schools (E-Blocks). These efforts mark a significant step toward enhancing quality and equity at the secondary level, as announced during a press briefing in Accra. Presenting the budget statement for 2026 on November 13, 2025, the Finance Minister revealed that the Ministry of Education had been allocated GHS 39.23 billion to execute planned programmes and interventions across basic, secondary, and tertiary education. Of this amount, GHS 33.76 billion will come from government funds, GHS 3.68 billion from internally generated funds, and GHS 1.8 billion from development partners through loans and grants. This allocation reflects a 23.5 percent increase over the 2025 approved budget. In addition, the Minister announced that GETFund had been allocated GHS 9.9 billion, including GHS 4.2 billion earmarked for free Senior High School (SHS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) infrastructure and services. The government's vision is to build an education system that is equitable, resilient, and responsive to the needs of a rapidly changing world, equipping every Ghanaian child with essential knowledge, skills, and values. Moreover, the government has allocated GHS 292.4 million for providing sanitary pads to girls in public schools to reduce absenteeism, improve retention, and promote menstrual hygiene management nationwide. The 'No Academic Fees' policy for all first-year students in public tertiary institutions will continue, with GHS 537.4 million allocated for this programme, representing a 7.6 percent increase over the previous year. A total of GHS 4.2 billion has been dedicated to sustaining and improving the Free SHS and Free TVET programmes, ensuring access to secondary education for every Ghanaian child. This represents a 16 percent increase from GHS 3.5 billion in 2025. The Minister also presented a comprehensive policy paper to the Cabinet proposing free education for all learners in special and inclusive schools, including modern assistive technology devices, enhanced nutritional support, and sustained capacity building for teachers within the special education ecosystem. Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, an amount of GHS 50 million has been allocated to this initiative, marking the start of a long-term national effort to bridge the equity gap and ensure learners with special needs receive appropriate resources and opportunities. Th e budget aims to strengthen foundational learning, drive secondary expansion, accelerate tertiary transformation, and lay the groundwork for a dedicated national programme for special and inclusive education. Moving forward, all manifesto commitments will be refined into performance agreements for heads of institutions under the Ministry of Education.