The Education Minister, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu has announced that Paga Senior High School will become a fully residential institution from the next academic year as part of measures to expand access to secondary education. Speaking at the commissioning of the E block, the Education Minister explained that the planned conversion will be supported by infrastructure development for both boys and girls.
“From next academic year, next year September, this school will be a full boarding school to serve the people of Paga.”
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu
The announcement is part of the government’s wider response to growing pressure on secondary school infrastructure. Honourable Iddrisu indicated that the President, John Dramani Mahama, wants infrastructure interventions to accompany major education decisions so schools can adequately accommodate increasing enrolment.
Paga Senior High School is expected to benefit from the Secondary Education Improvement Programme, known as STAR J, which is funded by the World Bank. The programme is expected to support infrastructure expansion across secondary schools as government works to improve access and learning conditions.
The Education Minister disclosed that government has committed GH¢2.8 billion towards secondary education infrastructure between now and December 2027. The investment is expected to support upgrades, laboratory expansion and other facilities needed to respond to rising enrolment.
Several schools in the Upper East Region have been identified among the institutions expected to benefit from the programme. They include Paga Senior High School, Bolgatanga Central Technical Institute, Gambigo Community Day Senior High School, Binduri Community Senior High School and Garu Community Day Senior High School.
For Paga Senior High School, the immediate requirement is a boarding facility capable of accommodating male and female students. Honourable Iddrisu indicated that the Education Ministry would engage GETFund to make provision for the facility in its 2027 formula.
Alongside the boarding announcement, the Education Minister highlighted changes being pursued within the administration of education support. He disclosed that the review of the Free Senior High School programme initiated under the previous government has been completed.
The review has informed decisions intended to safeguard access to secondary education while addressing challenges that have emerged from rising enrolment. Honourable Iddrisu indicated that the government is also seeking to improve transparency in the administration of educational support.
One such measure involves the Scholarship Authority, which has been established to oversee scholarship administration under a legal framework. The Education Minister explained that GETFund would work with the authority in awarding scholarships, creating a system intended to strengthen accountability in the process.
Furthermore, GETFund would continue to play an important role in financing education infrastructure. Its planned provision for Paga boarding facility is expected to support the school’s transition when the next academic year begins.
The education agenda also includes plans to improve access to professional training. Honourable Iddrisu indicated that government intends to expand opportunities in medical education as part of efforts to make professional training accessible to more young people.
Free SHS Review Drives New Push For School Infrastructure
The review of Free SHS has brought the infrastructure deficit into sharper focus as secondary schools continue to experience substantial growth in enrolment. Honourable Iddrisu explained that some institutions which previously accommodated about 1,800 students now have populations approaching 4,000.
The increase has placed additional pressure on classrooms, laboratories and other essential facilities. According to the Education Minister, the situation makes the expansion of infrastructure necessary if the Free SHS policy is to continue providing meaningful access.
The commissioning of an E Block at Paga therefore is part of the response to years of infrastructure shortages. Honourable Iddrisu described the facility as an important intervention for students who require adequate learning spaces to benefit from secondary education.
The Education Minister linked the infrastructure programme to the government’s wider review of secondary education. He indicated that schools across the country require facilities that match their current populations and support effective teaching and learning.
The situation at Paga mirrors a challenge facing several secondary institutions where enrolment has grown faster than physical infrastructure. The government’s infrastructure programme is therefore expected to focus on schools where expansion is necessary to accommodate students.
In the Upper East Region, the proposed interventions cover institutions at different stages of development. Some schools are expected to receive upgrades while others will benefit from expanded laboratories and additional facilities.
For Paga, the combination of an E Block and the planned boarding infrastructure could significantly alter the school’s capacity. The expansion is expected to create space for residential education while improving the facilities available to students.
The Education Ministry is also linking infrastructure expansion with long term planning for secondary education. The approach seeks to ensure that decisions on access are supported by facilities capable of serving growing student populations.
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