STARR-J Project Could Transform Learning Conditions in Ketu North Schools, Says MP Edem Agbana

The Secondary Education Reform and Resilience Project, a $300 million World Bank-backed initiative, has the potential to fundamentally reshape the learning environment in senior high schools across the Ketu North Constituency, according to Member of Parliament Eric Edem Agbana.

Speaking about the project’s expected impact on his constituency, Mr Agbana highlighted four senior high schools in Ketu North that have been identified as priority beneficiaries. The schools, like many Category B and Category C institutions across Ghana, have struggled with overcrowded classrooms, inadequate dormitory accommodation, and limited laboratory facilities — challenges that have been exacerbated by the expansion of the Free Senior High School programme.

“Beyond infrastructure, this investment represents a commitment to quality, equity and the future of Ghana’s young people,” Mr Agbana said. “If implemented effectively, it will leave a lasting impact on educational outcomes and national development.”

The STARR-J project is not limited to bricks and mortar. Mr Agbana outlined a broader vision for educational improvement in Ketu North that includes a Continuing Professional Development workshop for more than 1,200 teachers, the acquisition of additional Starlink devices to boost digital learning in schools, and a scholarship scheme that continues to honour successive cohorts of beneficiaries.

These complementary programmes reflect a growing recognition that infrastructure alone cannot transform education — teacher quality, digital access, and financial support for students are equally critical components of a functioning school system.

The MP commended Minister for Education Haruna Iddrisu for his leadership in securing the World Bank funding, noting that the project’s success would depend on effective coordination between the ministry, local education authorities, and community stakeholders.

Ghana’s double-track system, introduced as a temporary measure to accommodate the surge in enrolment under Free SHS, has been a source of frustration for students, parents, and teachers alike. Under the system, students attend school in alternating batches, effectively halving their contact hours with teachers. The STARR-J project’s central promise is that sufficient infrastructure can be built by 2027 to bring all students back onto a single, unified academic calendar.

For Ketu North, where rural schools have historically received less investment than their urban counterparts, the project represents a rare opportunity to close the infrastructure gap. Mr Agbana pledged to track progress on the ground and report back to his constituents, signalling that accountability will be a central theme of his oversight role.

The success or failure of STARR-J in Ketu North could serve as a bellwether for the project’s viability nationwide. If the four priority schools can demonstrate tangible improvements in learning conditions within the projected timeline, the model could be replicated across the country — offering a credible path out of the double-track system and towards a more equitable secondary education landscape.

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