The World Bank has approved US$300 million in International Development Association (IDA) financing to support Ghana’s efforts to transform its secondary education system, with a focus on expanding access, improving quality, and strengthening skills development for jobs.
The funding will go towards the Ghana Secondary Education Transformation for Access, Relevance, and Results for Jobs (STARR-J) Project, an ambitious initiative aimed at equipping young people with the knowledge and competencies needed for higher education and the evolving labour market.
The intervention comes at a critical time for Ghana’s education sector, which has witnessed significant expansion over the past two decades. While access to secondary education has improved markedly—driven in large part by the introduction of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policy in 2017—the surge in enrolment has put intense pressure on infrastructure, teaching capacity, and overall learning quality.
Current challenges include overcrowded classrooms, insufficient teaching staff, and an overreliance on the double-track system, which has resulted in prolonged breaks in academic schedules and disruptions in learning continuity. The World Bank estimates that Ghana’s public secondary schools could face a deficit of more than 850,000 effective seats by 2040 if current trends persist.
Speaking on the approval, World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Robert Taliercio, said the project is designed to tackle systemic constraints in the sector.
“This project will help Ghana address some of the most urgent challenges in secondary education by expanding learning spaces, improving quality, and strengthening the link between education, skills, and jobs,” he stated.
According to him, the initiative will directly benefit about 2.2 million students, including those with disabilities, across nearly 1,000 public secondary schools nationwide. A strong emphasis will also be placed on disadvantaged rural and peri-urban communities where gaps in access and quality remain most pronounced.
The STARR-J Project will finance the rehabilitation and upgrading of existing school facilities, as well as the construction of new ones to ease congestion and improve learning conditions. Beyond physical infrastructure, the programme will also support enhancements in teaching and learning, particularly in core subjects such as mathematics, science, and English, alongside increased integration of digital skills.
In addition, the project will promote more job-relevant programmes, especially within the TVET sub-sector, which continues to face criticism for producing graduates who lack practical and transferable skills needed by industry.
Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, described the initiative as a “strategic investment” in Ghana’s human capital development.
“This project represents a major investment in our youthful population and our country’s long-term competitiveness. It will expand learning opportunities, improve school infrastructure, and better align education outcomes with labour market demands,” he said.
He further noted that the project would play a key role in addressing infrastructure deficits created by the expanded access under the Free SHS policy.
The reforms under the STARR-J Project will also extend to improving teacher deployment systems, strengthening data collection and monitoring frameworks, and enhancing accountability mechanisms within the education sector. Officials say these measures are crucial for building a more efficient, transparent, and resilient education system.
Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank, Eunice Yaa Brimfah Ackwerh, underscored the importance of aligning education outcomes with economic realities.
“Ghana’s future growth will depend on whether today’s young people acquire the foundational and intermediate skills required to thrive in a rapidly changing economy,” she noted. “This financing will help expand access, strengthen learning outcomes, and prepare students for higher education, entrepreneurship, and decent work.”
The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Education as part of broader national efforts to enhance human capital development and accelerate economic transformation.
Analysts say the initiative could prove pivotal in addressing persistent skills mismatches in Ghana’s labour market, where employers frequently cite a gap between academic qualifications and practical workplace competencies.
If successfully implemented, the STARR-J Project is expected to not only ease pressure on the country’s secondary education system but also improve the employability of graduates—thereby supporting Ghana’s long-term development agenda.
Source: businesspostonline
