Ghana has secured US$300 million in financing from the World Bank to expand and improve secondary education through the Secondary Education Transformation for Access, Relevance, and Results for Jobs (STARR-J) project.
The programme aims to increase access to quality secondary education, strengthen learning outcomes and equip young people with skills better aligned with labour market demands.
According to the World Bank, the project will support the construction of new school facilities, while upgrading and modernising existing infrastructure across the country.
The initiative will also focus on improving teaching in core subjects, expanding digital learning and strengthening links between education and employment opportunities.
“This project is a major investment in Ghana’s growing youthful population and a strategic contribution to the country’s long-term human capital development and global competitiveness,” Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu said.
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The World Bank said the project is expected to benefit about 2.2 million students, including learners with disabilities, across nearly 1,000 public secondary schools.
Special attention will be given to underserved rural communities and rapidly expanding urban areas where demand for secondary education has increased significantly.
Ghana has made major progress in expanding access to secondary education in recent years, particularly following the introduction of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy in 2017 and the growth of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.
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However, the rapid increase in enrolment has placed pressure on school infrastructure, teacher availability and the overall quality of education delivery.
The World Bank said addressing these challenges will be critical to ensuring that increased access translates into better learning outcomes and improved employment prospects for young Ghanaians.
The project forms part of broader efforts to strengthen human capital development in Ghana, where a large and growing youth population has increased demand for skills training and job opportunities.
The funding comes as the government continues initiatives aimed at reducing barriers to education, including the “No Fees Stress” policy launched in July 2025 to support access to public higher education by removing tuition fees for first-year students.
The World Bank said the STARR-J project will contribute to building a more inclusive and competitive education system capable of supporting Ghana’s long-term economic growth.
