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June 17, 2026
AI-Enhanced
World Bank approves $300m STARR-J Project to end double-track SHS system by 2027
Money
Policy
Opportunity
Growth
Key Points
- The World Bank has approved a $300 million financing package for Ghana's education sector.
- The funding is for the Transformative Secondary Education for Access, Results and Relevance for Jobs (STARR-J) Project.
- The project aims to phase out the double-track system in Senior High Schools by 2027.
- It will address infrastructure deficits, improve learning conditions, and enhance system efficiency in secondary education.
- The initiative responds to challenges from the Free SHS policy and is seen as a strategic investment in Ghana's human capital development and global competitiveness.
Why This Matters
This financing is crucial for Ghana as it directly addresses the significant challenges in secondary education, particularly overcrowding and infrastructure deficits, which arose from the successful Free SHS policy. By phasing out the double-track system and improving educational quality, it aims to enhance human capital development, better align skills with labor market demands, and boost Ghana's long-term global competitiveness.
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