The government is planning a major expansion of Senior High School infrastructure, with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu announcing plans to upgrade 20 Category B schools to Category A status and construct 10 new model Category A schools.
The initiative is aimed at increasing the number of places available in highly sought-after schools and easing pressure on the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
Mr Iddrisu said the infrastructure push has become necessary as demand for places in top-tier schools continues to outstrip available capacity.
Speaking on Accra-based TV3, the Tamale South MP disclosed that the government has secured $300 million from the World Bank under the STARR-J initiative to support infrastructure development in the education sector.
“We are going to convert 20 Category B schools into A, and we will build 10 new model Category A schools in the country,” he said.
The Minister also revealed that he has directed the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to prioritise infrastructure expansion in Category A schools under its 2027 funding formula.
He said between GH¢250 million and GH¢300 million should be allocated to expand infrastructure in 10 Category A schools, describing the move as necessary because of the concentration of demand in those institutions.
“I have already issued policy directive to the GETFund Administrator in a conversation at Achimota School that we should dedicate 250-300 million to expand infrastructure in 10 Category A schools because it is a matter of demand concentration,” Mr Iddrisu said.
According to the Minister, the rapid growth in enrolment following the introduction of the Free SHS programme was not matched by a corresponding expansion of school infrastructure.
“So, if over an eight-year period, you introduce a Free SHS and fail to support it with expanded infrastructure to accommodate the exponential increase in numbers, you don’t blame government for it,” he said.
His announcement comes against the backdrop of difficulties experienced during the 2026 CSSPS placement exercise, with intense competition for vacancies in Category A schools.
Mr Iddrisu previously disclosed that 328,000 students had selected Category A schools, while only 76,000 vacancies were available, creating a significant gap between demand and capacity.
He maintained that expanding infrastructure in the most sought-after schools is essential to creating more opportunities for students and reducing the pressure on the placement system.
The planned expansion is therefore expected to form part of the government’s broader efforts to address the infrastructure gap and improve access to highly demanded secondary schools.
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