The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has revealed that the government is developing a strategy to upgrade certain Category B senior high schools (SHSs) to Category A status as part of efforts to address ongoing school placement challenges.
He explained that the initiative is intended to promote fairness and increase access for students who often face difficulties gaining admission into their preferred Category A schools.
Speaking at the launch of the ADEA Triennale on Education Conference, Mr. Iddrisu noted that the Ministry will require substantial budgetary support to provide the necessary infrastructure in the selected schools.
“The ministry acknowledges that there is a significant challenge when there are 76,000 vacancies but 393,000 qualified applicants desiring to fill them. The challenge is described as a near impossibility,” he said.
He further revealed that discussions with the President are already underway regarding the plan’s rollout in 2026.
“To address equity and capacity, the Minister has discussed with the President a plan for 2026 to convert at least 10 Category C schools to Category B, and 10 Category B schools to Category A. This conversion will be backed by infrastructure development, including available classroom blocks, dormitories for students, and quality improvement through improved teaching and learning materials and aids.
“But I will need budgetary support and allocation to do that,” he indicated.
This announcement follows a petition submitted by the Coalition of Unpaid Teachers—comprising graduates from Colleges of Education and universities—who have gone over 13 months without salaries.
Upon receiving the petition on Tuesday, September 30, Mr. Iddrisu assured the group that the Ministry of Education, together with the Ministry of Finance, would prepare a joint memorandum for Cabinet to resolve their grievances.
Source: Adomonline