Ghana’s SHS problem isn’t money… it’s planning

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Government has announced a $300 million World Bank-supported initiative to upgrade 50 senior high schools under the STAR-J project. The goal? ✔ Improve infrastructure ✔ Train teachers in AI and digital skills ✔ Eliminate the double-track system by 2027 But is this realistic? In this conversation, Barnabas Addai Amanful, Senior Research Fellow at Institute for Educational Studies, breaks it down: 👉 “We’ve heard announcements before… what matters is execution.” 👉 Ghana’s education system is not data-driven 👉 Eliminating double track in under 2 years may be unrealistic 👉 Infrastructure remains the biggest challenge facing SHS education 👉 Teacher quality and training will determine success He also raises critical concerns: Are we rushing to meet political deadlines instead of building lasting systems? Do we even know how many classrooms, dormitories, and facilities we actually need? Can AI training work when schools lack basic teaching resources?