By Zobia Zulfqar 
The World Bank has approved a $300 million financing package to support Ghana’s efforts to eliminate the double-track system in Senior High Schools (SHSs) by 2027, according to the Ministry of Education.
The funding will be used to implement the Transforming Secondary Education for Results and Jobs (STARR-J) Project, a major initiative aimed at expanding access to quality secondary education while improving learning outcomes across the country.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Ministry of Education on June 16, 2026. The statement, signed by the Press Secretary to the Minister for Education, Hashmin Mohammed, described the approval as a significant step toward addressing challenges within Ghana’s secondary education system.
According to the Ministry, the financing package will support the government’s broader plan to phase out the double-track system through the expansion of educational infrastructure in Senior High Schools nationwide.
The double-track system was introduced under the Free Senior High School policy to accommodate increased student enrollment despite limited classroom and boarding facilities. While the arrangement allowed more students to access secondary education, it has also generated concerns about reduced contact hours, overcrowding, and pressure on school resources.
President John Dramani Mahama has repeatedly emphasized his administration’s commitment to ending the system and creating a more effective learning environment for students.
The President first outlined the government’s plans during the commissioning of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan facility at the Swedish Ghana Medical Centre in Accra. During the event, he highlighted the need to improve access to quality secondary education while ensuring students receive the best possible learning experience.
“By 2027, there should be no secondary school implementing a double-track system in Ghana,” President Mahama stated.
He later reaffirmed the commitment during a visit to the Savannah Region, where he informed residents of Sawla that the government was investing heavily in educational infrastructure to increase enrollment capacity ahead of the complete phase-out of the system.
The Ministry of Education explained that the STARR-J Project is designed to address some of the key challenges facing secondary education in Ghana.
In addition to expanding infrastructure, the project will focus on improving teaching and learning outcomes, strengthening the connection between education and employment opportunities, and enhancing the overall quality of secondary education.
Officials say the initiative will also help tackle infrastructure deficits that emerged following the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy, which significantly increased enrollment numbers across the country.
The World Bank’s financial support is expected to fund the construction and expansion of school facilities, improve educational resources, and support reforms aimed at preparing students for future employment opportunities.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the approval, viewing it as a major boost to the government’s efforts to modernize the education sector and improve conditions in schools.
The investment also reflects continued international confidence in Ghana’s education reform agenda and its commitment to ensuring that every student has access to quality secondary education.
With the 2027 target now firmly in focus, the government is expected to accelerate infrastructure projects and other educational reforms to ensure the complete elimination of the double-track system within the proposed timeline.
The Ministry of Education expressed optimism that the STARR-J Project, backed by the World Bank’s $300 million financing package, will play a critical role in transforming secondary education and creating better opportunities for students across Ghana.
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