The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, says he has asked the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to allocate GH¢250 million this year to expand infrastructure in Category A senior high schools.

According to him, the additional investment will help ease pressure on some of the country's most sought-after schools, which have experienced a sharp rise in student numbers under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.

Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, September 12, during a discussion on the SHS placement crisis, Mr Iddrisu said he had already discussed the matter with the GETFUND administrator.

“I'm also happy to note that I requested, and I had a discussion with the administrator of GETFUND, that he should make an allocation of 250 million this year,” he said.

The minister said the funds would be used to expand facilities in Category A schools, while other infrastructure needs would be addressed through the government's planned World Bank-funded programme.

“Then we can expand the facilities in the Category A schools, while the World Bank focuses on other areas,” Mr Iddrisu said.

Mr Iddrisu said the planned expansion would cover some of the country's leading senior high schools, including Achimota School, Wesley Girls' High School, Wesley College, Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School (PRESEC) and Prempeh College.

He said the government intends to provide additional classrooms and accommodation facilities to help the schools cope with increasing enrolment.

“We can start classrooms, two dormitories, male and female, at Achimota, Wesley Girls, Holy Child, Presec, and Prempeh,” he said.

The minister's comments come amid growing concerns over the ability of some Category A schools to accommodate the number of students seeking admission.

The pressure has contributed to the difficulties experienced by some students and parents during the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) process, particularly where demand for places far exceeds available capacity.

Mr Iddrisu also defended the government's decision to increase investment in community-based secondary education as part of a longer-term solution to the placement challenges.

He said President John Mahama had directed him to pursue the construction of model community day schools in selected areas.

“That's what I said; the President has directed me. For instance, in Nima, Ayawaso, we'll build a model community day school,” he said.

Mr Iddrisu said the project would also form part of the government's broader infrastructure plans, adding that President Mahama would cut the sod for the $300 million project once procurement processes have been completed.

“That is where President Mahama will cut the sword for the Star J 300 million U.S. dollar project, as soon as we are done with procurement,” he said.

He also announced plans for special education facilities in other parts of the country.

“We'll build special education in Ho, and then Sunyani, and we are considering one for Kintampo,” he said.

Beyond the immediate placement crisis, Mr Iddrisu said Ghana needs to reconsider how resources are distributed across the education sector.

He said he had taken note of suggestions from education experts, including Professor Adei and the late Professor Gyaama, who he said had written extensively on education.

“We are at it, but I take the advice from Professor Adei, and he and other persons, including the late Professor Jampa, wrote extensively on education,” he said.

The minister said that Ghana is spending too much on secondary education at the expense of foundational learning at the basic level.

“But, again, Ghana, we are spending too much on secondary education,” he said.

“That is the major damage that privatisation did to Ghana's education system.”

Mr Iddrisu said education resources should instead be directed towards foundational learning, particularly literacy and numeracy.

“Everywhere in the world, focus, resources, and investment must be aligned to foundational learning, basic education, where literacy and numeracy are gained."

“If a child gets literacy right, that child is more likely to succeed,” he said.

The minister also pointed to the government's spending on the school feeding programme as an example of investment at the basic education level.

He said the government currently spends about GH¢3.4 billion on school feeding.

“But we are spending 3.4 billion on school feeding, in the name of pre-senior high school,” he said.

He added that, despite the broader concerns about education spending, the school feeding programme remains a positive intervention.

“At least, that's a good thing we have also done as a government,” Mr Iddrisu said.