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The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has dismissed claims that the government’s $300 million World Bank loan is intended to finance the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
His clarification follows criticism from the Minority in Parliament, who argued that the loan was evidence of the government’s inability to manage the economy a few months after Ghana exited the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
The Minority had suggested that the facility was being sought to sustain the implementation of the Free SHS policy.
Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, July 27, 2026, monitored by kumasipioneer.com, Iddrisu rejected the assertion.
He explained that the loan is aimed at addressing long-standing challenges within the secondary education sector, and not for recurrent expenditure under Free SHS.
“We’re borrowing to expand secondary education infrastructure. Don’t forget there was secondary education before Free SHS. We have finished our review; it has come to stay,” he said.
According to the Minister, the facility will support three key areas: infrastructure expansion, improving feeding arrangements, and enhancing the overall quality of education.
Focus On Ending Double-Track System
Mr. Iddrisu said a major objective of the World Bank loan is to help eliminate the double-track system, which he noted has reduced contact hours between teachers and students.
“The World Bank loan is to help us end the double-track system, which didn’t allow for qualitative enhancement in terms of time hours between teachers and students. Within the next 24 months, we should see an end to the double-track system,” he stated.
He cited Prempeh College and St. Peter’s Senior High School as examples of institutions that have already started making progress towards transitioning out of the double-track calendar.
Gov’t Allocates GH¢3.4bn For Feeding Under Free SHS
On financing for Free SHS, the Education Minister said government has made separate provisions through the national budget.
He disclosed that a budgetary allocation of about GH¢3.4 billion has been made available through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) in 2026 to address feeding challenges under the programme.
Beyond infrastructure, Mr. Iddrisu said government is focused on improving the quality of graduates by strengthening teacher professionalism, updating curriculum content, and placing greater emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and Information Technology.
He noted that the review of the Free SHS policy has been completed and the programme will continue, but with reforms to ensure sustainability and improved outcomes.
The Minister assured that the $300 million facility will be channeled transparently to expand access, improve learning conditions, and ensure more students complete senior high school in a single-track system.
