Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu Outlines Major Reforms to Expand Public Universities and Phase Out Double-Track System

The Ghanaian government, led by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, has announced a sweeping set of reforms and infrastructure investments aimed at transforming the country's educational landscape over the next 24 months. At the heart of this strategy is a commitment to eliminate the double-track system in senior high schools, supported by a $300 million World Bank facility. This funding is slated to finance 210 major infrastructure projects, including the construction of 10 new secondary schools and the rehabilitation of 150 existing institutions. While the Minority in Parliament has questioned whether these funds are being diverted to support the Free SHS program, the government maintains the investment is strictly for infrastructure to restore a single-track academic calendar and enhance STEM learning outcomes for approximately 2.3 million students.

In the tertiary sector, the government is advancing plans to ensure every regional capital hosts a public institution for higher learning and research. A specific allocation of GH100 million has been proposed through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to facilitate the take-off of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) campus in Kenyase, which is envisioned to eventually transition into a full-fledged university. To guide the broader expansion of public universities across the country, the government has established the Amoako Nuama Committee, whose recommendations will shape the future of higher education access and innovation.

Simultaneously, a proposal is underway to establish a National Teacher University to unify all 48 public colleges of education under a single administrative and academic framework. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu identified Peki as a potential location for this central institution, which aims to standardize teacher training quality and boost research capacity within the profession. This move is part of a wider effort to improve teacher professionalism and student welfare, which includes a GH3.4 billion allocation for student feeding and the coverage of examination fees as outlined by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson during the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review.

Beyond infrastructure and structural shifts, the government is also focusing on character development through the launch of the Malta-Ghana Ethics Education Partnership, or "Project Ethics." In collaboration with the Government of Malta and StepUp Nigeria, this initiative will integrate ethics and critical thinking into the national curriculum from kindergarten through junior high school. By combining massive physical expansion with a focus on ethical behavior and STEM education, the Mahama administration seeks to build a morally responsible and technically proficient workforce capable of navigating the challenges of the modern era.