Ghana to renovate 150 SHS, build 10 new TVET schools in $300M infrastructure boost

The government is set to do a major expansion and renovation of Senior High School buildings across the country.

This is to provide decent places for students to live and to increase enrollment. ‎‎ The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen the education system and make sure that rising enrolment does not hurt the quality of teaching and learning.

‎‎The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, who announced this, said the programme would start in July this year with a large-scale renovation of 150 secondary schools nationwide.‎‎

“I am happy to announce that under President Mahama’s review of the infrastructure model of free senior high school, we will, from July this year, do a massive renovation of 150 secondary schools across the country,” he said. ‎‎

He added that 13 technical and vocational education training (TVET) schools would also be renovated, while 10 new TVET schools would be built to expand access to skills-based education and align training with what the job market needs.

‎‎He said about 50 Senior High Schools would also benefit from a $300 million World Bank-funded upgrading project. ‎‎Inauguration‎Mr Iddrisu was speaking at the opening of a new office complex for the National Teaching Council (NTC) in Tamale.

‎‎The facility includes offices, a conference hall, a power house, and other extra facilities to support the professional growth and regulation of teachers. ‎‎In his remarks, the minister praised the NTC for building the office and said it would go a long way to improve their work in the area. ‎‎

He further charged the NTC to step up efforts to promote discipline and professionalism within the teaching profession. ‎‎Teacher professionalism‎For his part, the Board Chairman of the NTC, Kwami Alorvi, said the new office complex would strengthen teacher professionalism and promote quality education delivery nationwide. ‎‎

He explained that the facility would serve as a regional hub for teacher licensing, professional development, and the coordination of standards relating to teacher performance and ethics. ‎‎

“The establishment of these regional offices shows our commitment to bringing NTC services closer to teachers, stakeholders, and institutions in the northern part of the country,” he said. ‎‎

Mr. Alorvi added that the dedication of teachers and education stakeholders continues to inspire efforts to keep teaching as a respected and active profession. ‎‎

The Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Alhassan Alidu Junior, promised that his office would support the NTC in doing its work.

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President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government has secured a $300 million World Bank facility to upgrade 50 senior high schools under the STARR-J initiative. The program aims to improve access, quality, and equity in education by upgrading 30 Category C schools to Category B and 20 Category B schools to Category A status. President Mahama said the investment reflects the government’s commitment to education and national development.