The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that Ghana's 12 best-performing senior high schools in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will each receive GH¢2 million from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). This funding aims to improve facilities in high-performing schools and widen access to quality secondary education. The announcement was made at Mfantsipim School's 150th anniversary celebration.
The funding will be used for the construction and expansion of essential facilities, including classrooms, dormitories, ICT centres, libraries, and other infrastructure. Mfantsipim School, one of the beneficiary schools, plans to use its funding to expand its assembly hall. According to the Minister, the government has set aside GH¢250 million from GETFund's 2027 funding formula to support infrastructure development in Category A senior high schools.
The focus of the funding is to tackle accommodation shortages and gaps in teaching and learning facilities, enabling schools to take in more students. The Minister stated that the best 12 performing senior high schools at WASSCE will benefit from the GETFund funding. The announcement is part of a wider education push, with the government reviewing the 2017 Free Senior High School policy and redirecting investment into literacy, numeracy, and agricultural science.
In addition to the infrastructure funding, other pledges of support were made at the Mfantsipim anniversary celebration. KGL Foundation chairman Alex Apau Dadey pledged $2 million over 20 years to maintain the school's new sports centre. Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II served as a guest speaker at the event. The GETFund is a statutory body that collects a portion of Ghana's Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue to finance educational infrastructure projects across the country.
The Minister's announcement did not specify when disbursement to the 12 beneficiary schools would begin or how the schools would be selected beyond their WASSCE performance. However, it is clear that the government is committed to improving education infrastructure in Ghana. The funding is expected to have a positive impact on the country's education sector.
The GETFund has been instrumental in financing educational infrastructure projects in Ghana, from basic schools to tertiary institutions. The fund's support for the 12 best-performing WASSCE schools is a significant step towards improving the quality of education in the country. The government's investment in education is expected to yield positive results in the long term.
The education sector in Ghana is expected to benefit from the government's increased investment in infrastructure development. The 12 beneficiary schools will have the opportunity to improve their facilities and provide better learning environments for their students. The government's commitment to education is evident in its policies and funding allocations, which aim to improve access to quality education for all Ghanaian students.
Key points
- The 12 best-performing WASSCE schools will each receive GH¢2 million from GETFund for infrastructure development.
