Mfantsipim @ 150: Gov’t to build 10 model SHSs, upgrade 30 Category B schools – Haruna Iddrisu

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced plans by the government to construct 10 new model senior high schools across the country and upgrade 30 Category B schools to the standard of Category A institutions. He said the initiative forms part of the government’s broader investment in secondary education following the completion of a review of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy introduced in 2017.

Speaking at the 150th anniversary celebration of Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast on Saturday, November 14, Mr Iddrisu said the government, under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, had completed its assessment of the Free SHS programme as part of efforts to reset the country’s education priorities. According to him, the review has informed a decision to redirect some investments towards strengthening foundational learning, particularly literacy, numeracy, agricultural science and mathematics.

“President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC government, under the reset, have completed the review of the Free Senior High School project implemented in 2017, and the decision of government is to realign investment into basic foundational learning in order that we will get a rise in literacy and numeracy, agricultural science and mathematics literacy,” he said.

The Education Minister explained that strengthening basic education was necessary to improve learning outcomes and equip pupils with the essential competencies required to progress successfully through the educational system. He stressed that improving foundational learning would remain a key consideration in the government’s education reforms. $300m investment in secondary education Mr Iddrisu also announced a further investment of $300 million in the country’s secondary education infrastructure, aimed at expanding facilities and improving learning conditions across senior high schools.

He said the funding would support infrastructure expansion in schools nationwide, although the specific allocation of the funds to the various projects was not detailed in his remarks. As part of the investment, the government plans to establish 10 new model senior high schools, with one to be constructed in each of 10 regions. The initiative is expected to expand access to quality secondary education while providing additional facilities to accommodate students and improve the delivery of teaching and learning. 30 Category B schools to be upgraded In another major component of the government’s plan, 30 Category B senior high schools are to be upgraded to match the standards of Category A institutions such as Mfantsipim School.

The initiative is intended to narrow the infrastructure and facilities gap between the different categories of senior high schools and ensure that more students have access to quality educational facilities, irrespective of the category of school they attend. Mr Iddrisu cited Mfantsipim as an example of the standard the government wants the selected schools to attain.

The proposed upgrades are expected to improve infrastructure and the general learning environment in the beneficiary institutions. Education reset The announcements form part of the government’s broader education reform agenda, which seeks to review existing policies, strengthen foundational learning and improve infrastructure at the secondary level.

The completion of the Free SHS review signals the government’s intention to reassess investment priorities within the education sector while maintaining attention on access and quality. The planned construction of 10 model senior high schools and upgrading of 30 Category B institutions also represent an effort to improve the distribution of educational infrastructure across the country.

Founded in 1876, Mfantsipim is one of Ghana’s oldest secondary schools and has produced generations of prominent professionals and national leaders.