Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed that government will allocate GH₵1 billion from the GETFund in 2026 to address critical infrastructure challenges in schools nationwide.
He said the investment will close long-standing infrastructure gaps and ultimately phase out the double-track system in senior high schools.
“This funding will help us deal decisively with infrastructure deficits and ultimately tackle the double-track system,” Mr Iddrisu stated during a working visit to the Upper East Region.
As part of the tour, the minister visited Zebilla Senior High Technical School, where he interacted with WASSCE candidates and assessed the impact of the Bawku conflict on academic activities.
He urged students to remain committed to their education despite the challenges they face. “We need to say no to war, no to conflict. Education remains our surest bet to fight ignorance and poverty, so grab the opportunity and give it your best,” he encouraged.
In a symbolic act, the minister refused to wear a bulletproof vest offered to him, saying: “I refused to put it on because a bulletproof jacket does not belong in an academic environment. It does not create the conducive atmosphere needed for learning to thrive.”
Calling for calm in Bawku, Mr Iddrisu stressed that lasting peace was vital to restore a proper environment for teaching and learning. “Lasting peace must be restored in Bawku so that the city can be rebuilt and a serene environment for education restored,” he added.
He also highlighted the plight of students in conflict zones, noting that their disadvantaged circumstances are often ignored during examinations.
“It is unfortunate that examiners will not consider the fact that students here did not have the serenity and peace of mind to learn, yet they will be graded equally with their counterparts in peaceful areas,” he observed.
Source: Adomonline
