Accra: Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed that the World Bank is supporting Ghana's education sector with $300 million to upgrade several secondary schools across the country. The funding is aimed at converting several Category 'C' schools into Category 'B' schools, while some Category 'B' schools will also be upgraded to Category 'A' status as part of ongoing reforms to improve access and quality in the education system.
According to Ghana Web, the initiative is part of broader efforts to fortify infrastructure in senior high schools. Iddrisu stated on TV3's NewDay that the World Bank's financial support aligns with the government's strategy to enhance educational facilities. Beyond infrastructure expansion at the secondary level, the government is focusing on strengthening basic education, which is seen as the foundation of a robust education system.
The minister elaborated on the administration's commitment to realigning financial resources to prioritize basic education, echoing sentiments from the President's State of the Nation Address. This shift is intended to improve learning outcomes across the country.
Iddrisu also criticized the previous administration under former president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the Free Senior High School policy, arguing that infrastructure development lagged behind the rising number of students due to increased enrolment since the policy's introduction in 2017.
Looking ahead, the current administration under John Dramani Mahama plans to make education more inclusive for persons with special needs. This includes introducing free education for special needs students, providing necessary assistive devices, and raising the feeding grant from GHS 8 to GHS 15.
Further, Iddrisu mentioned potential reforms to reduce the reliance on boarding facilities, especially in urban areas, while expanding day-school options closer to communities. This approach aims to focus on rural and peri-urban areas for de-boardinisation and reduce boardinisation in urban regions.