Government plans to construct 10 new model senior high schools and upgrade 30 Category B schools to Category A standards as part of a wider investment in secondary education.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced the plan at the 150th anniversary celebration of Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
He said the intervention follows the completion of government’s review of the Free Senior High School policy introduced in 2017 and will form part of a broader attempt to rebalance education spending.
Free SHS review completed
Mr Iddrisu said the review had informed a decision to direct more attention towards foundational learning, especially literacy, numeracy, agricultural science and mathematics.
“President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC government, under the reset, have completed the review of the Free Senior High School project implemented in 2017,” he said.
He added that government intends to “realign investment into basic foundational learning” to improve learning outcomes in those areas.
The minister said stronger basic education was necessary if pupils were to enter secondary school with the competencies required to perform well.
The announcement suggests that government intends to pursue infrastructure expansion at the secondary level while placing greater emphasis on learning outcomes at the basic level.
$300m earmarked for secondary education
Hon Iddrisu also announced a further $300 million investment in secondary education infrastructure.
Part of that funding will support the construction of 10 model senior high schools across 10 regions.
Government has not yet disclosed which regions will benefit or the individual cost and construction timetable for each school.
The planned schools are expected to expand access to secondary education and provide additional infrastructure for teaching and learning.
Category B schools targeted for upgrade
Another 30 Category B senior high schools will be upgraded to standards comparable to Category A institutions.
Hon Iddrisu cited Mfantsipim as an example of the level of infrastructure and educational environment government wants the selected schools to attain.
The move is expected to address disparities in facilities between some of Ghana’s better-resourced schools and institutions that continue to face accommodation, classroom and teaching infrastructure constraints.
Government is also making separate provisions through the Ghana Education Trust Fund to expand facilities in high-performing schools.
Hon. Iddrisu announced that GH¢250 million in the 2027 GETFund formula would be dedicated to infrastructure improvements, with the 12 best-performing senior high schools in WASSCE each expected to receive GH¢2 million.
The infrastructure plans form part of a wider education reform programme covering access, school quality, staffing and foundational learning.
Mfantsipim, founded in 1876, marked 150 years with activities bringing together government officials, traditional authorities, the Methodist Church, alumni, staff and students.
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