President John Mahama has announced that the government has secured a 300-million-dollar facility from the World Bank to upgrade 50 senior high schools across the country as part of efforts to improve access and quality in secondary education.

Speaking at the commissioning of a PET Scan at the Swedish Ghana Medical Centre, President Mahama said the initiative, known as the Transformative Secondary Education for Access, Results and Relevance for Jobs project (STARR-J), would play a major role in ending the Double Track system by 2027.

“The STARR-J project is going to assist the Ghana government achieve its target of bringing an end to double track in our secondary school system by next year. By 2027, there should be no secondary school implementing a double track system in Ghana,” he stated.

READ ALSO: SHS Freshers To Report On September 18 – GES

According to the President, the project will see 30 Category C senior high schools upgraded to Category B, while 20 Category B schools will be elevated to Category A.

“This strategic investment is not simply about expanding infrastructure. It is fundamentally about promoting equity, improving quality, and widening opportunities for every Ghanaian child,” he said.

President Mahama disclosed that new E-block community day schools would also be constructed in urban and peri-urban communities to ease pressure on boarding facilities and improve access to secondary education.

“So what this means is that if we get some of the children to go to school within their communities, it will ease the pressure on the boarding schools that are elsewhere,” he explained.

He added that the schools would be strategically located in communities where students can commute easily between home and school.

Beyond infrastructure, the President said the STARR-J initiative would focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning, particularly in technical and vocational education.

“As part of this initiative, all teachers in our secondary schools will benefit from continuous professional development programmes designed to sharpen their skills and improve classroom effectiveness,” he noted.

He said the training programmes would equip teachers with “21st century competencies, including digital literacy, critical thinking, innovative pedagogical approaches, artificial intelligence integration, and learner-centred teaching.”

President Mahama further praised teachers for their contribution to national development, describing education as the “bedrock of national development.”

“Behind every successful doctor, every successful engineer, entrepreneur, public servant, scientist, and let me add, behind every president, there stands a teacher who inspired, nurtured and guided them on that journey,” he stated.

The President also talked about recent reforms to career progression within the teaching service, saying the government had introduced measures to allow teachers to rise through the ranks based on merit, competence, experience, and performance rather than the availability of administrative positions.

“This reform ensures that excellence in the classroom is recognized and rewarded, whilst strengthening professionalism, morale, and dignity across the teaching service,” he added.

The newly commissioned PET Scan machine at the Swedish Ghana Medical Centre is expected to significantly improve advanced diagnostic healthcare services in Ghana.

A PET Scan, short for Positron Emission Tomography scan, is an advanced imaging technology used to detect and monitor diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and brain disorders by showing how tissues and organs are functioning inside the body.

The technology helps doctors identify diseases at early stages, improve treatment planning, and monitor patients’ responses to treatment.

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The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Senior High School (KNUST SHS) in Kumasi has confirmed the death of one of its candidates following a brief illness during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Management of the school said it is mourning with the bereaved family while ensuring that the remaining candidates are provided with the necessary support and a conducive environment to continue their examinations.

The school also reported that another registered candidate has discontinued schooling and is currently absent from the examinations.

In addition, a pregnant candidate successfully participated in the English Oral examination alongside her colleagues.

A total of 1,022 candidates from the school are sitting for this year’s WASSCE, as core subjects commenced nationwide.

The Assistant Headmaster (Academic) and Assistant Examination Supervisor, Agyekum Kwaku, described the conduct of the examination so far as smooth, noting that the institution maintains a strict culture of zero tolerance for examination malpractice.

He expressed satisfaction with the orderly nature of the exercise, adding that invigilators and supervisors were ensuring strict compliance with examination regulations.

Meanwhile, examination centres such as St Louis Senior High School and T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School also reported calm and orderly proceedings, as more than 500,000 candidates across the country continue with the nationwide WASSCE, the news team reported from Kumasi.

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The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced that all Junior High School graduates who took the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) are scheduled to begin their studies at Senior High and Technical Schools across the country on September 18, 2026.

In a statement released on Thursday, May 14, GES leadership congratulated the graduating students and confirmed that thorough preparations are in place to ensure a seamless entry into senior secondary education.

These preparations involve guaranteeing sufficient infrastructure, resources, and administrative assistance in schools to support all new students.

All candidates who qualify will be assigned to schools, according to the statement. Every attempt has been made to guarantee that every student has access to technical and senior high education.

The service responded to recent media reports indicating a potential risk of placement for approximately 72,000 students, characterizing these assertions as “speculative” and advising the public to dismiss them.

Additionally, the Ghana Education Service (GES) assured stakeholders that the ongoing process to discontinue the double-track system would not hinder students’ educational access.

Conversely, this reform is anticipated to enhance the quality of teaching and learning, while ensuring continued full access for all students.

The service reiterated its dedication to providing equitable, inclusive, and quality education for every Ghanaian child, requesting the support of parents, educators, and policymakers in achieving this national goal.