The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government will release GH₵1 billion from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) in 2026 to tackle critical infrastructure challenges facing schools across the country.
The substantial investment represents one of the most significant single allocations to education infrastructure in Ghana’s recent history.
Speaking during recent public engagements, Minister Iddrisu disclosed that the government will inject GH₵1 billion from the GETFund in 2026 to address long-standing infrastructure challenges in schools nationwide.
The announcement comes as the education sector grapples with overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and the persistent double-track system that has characterized many Senior High Schools since the introduction of the Free Senior High School Policy.
The primary objective of this massive funding injection is to eliminate the double-track system that currently affects numerous secondary schools across Ghana.
The amount, to be captured in the 2026 annual funding, will enable schools to expand their infrastructure capacity, thereby accommodating all students under a single-track system.
This move is expected to improve the quality of education delivery and provide students with more comprehensive learning experiences.
The double-track system was introduced as a temporary measure to manage the surge in enrollment following the implementation of the Free Senior High School Policy.
Under this system, students are divided into different tracks that alternate attendance periods, allowing schools to accommodate more pupils despite limited infrastructure.
However, critics have argued that this arrangement compromises educational quality and limits students’ access to resources and extracurricular activities.
Minister Iddrisu emphasized that the investment will close long-standing infrastructure gaps and ultimately phase out the double-track system. The funding will be directed toward constructing new classrooms, dormitories, dining halls, libraries, and other essential facilities that schools desperately need to operate at full capacity.
The GETFund, established to support educational infrastructure development in Ghana, has been instrumental in funding various educational projects across the country.
However, the scale of this 2026 allocation represents a significant boost to the fund’s capacity to address the mounting infrastructure deficit in Ghana’s educational system.
Educational stakeholders have welcomed the announcement, viewing it as a crucial step toward improving the country’s educational standards. The elimination of the double-track system is expected to provide students with more contact hours with teachers, better access to school facilities, and improved overall academic performance.
The timing of this announcement is particularly significant as Ghana continues to grapple with the educational challenges brought about by rapid enrollment increases.
The government’s commitment to investing such a substantial amount demonstrates its recognition of education as a priority sector and its determination to provide quality education for all Ghanaian children.
As the country prepares for the 2026 implementation of this ambitious infrastructure program, education officials are expected to begin detailed planning and project identification to ensure the effective utilization of these resources.
The success of this initiative could serve as a model for sustainable educational infrastructure development in Ghana and potentially across the West African region.
Story Written By Prince Asante Kwarteng | Kobby Kyei News
