$326M Start J Initiative to Upgrade SHS Infrastructure, Education Quality — Education Minister

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu says government will roll out major infrastructure upgrades for senior high schools under the World Bank-funded _Start J Initiative_, with a total package of $326 million.

Speaking in Parliament, the Minister noted that some regions still lack Category A schools, with the North East and Savannah Regions among those affected. He added that at least one region currently has no senior high school.

The World Bank is expected to conclude and approve the project on June 16, after which it will go through competitive international bidding before contracts are awarded.

According to the Minister, about $256 million will go directly into infrastructure, while an additional $70 million is earmarked for quality improvement measures. These include learning materials and other resources aimed at raising standards in secondary education nationwide.

He said the initiative will also strengthen monitoring systems to ensure measurable improvements in learning outcomes across the country.