The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, says the government will soon begin upgrading some Category B senior high schools to Category A status to ease the country’s school placement pressure.
He said the move seeks to promote fairness and widen access for students who often struggle to secure admission to top-tier 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,” Mr. Iddrisu said.
According to him, discussions with the President have already started, and the plan is expected to take off in 2026. Under the proposal, at least 10 Category C schools will be upgraded to Category B, while another 10 Category B schools will be promoted to Category A.
He noted that the initiative will include major infrastructure improvements, such as new classroom blocks, dormitories, and enhanced teaching and learning materials.
“But I will need budgetary support and allocation to do that,” he stated.
Mr. Iddrisu made the announcement at the launch of the ADEA Triennale on Education Conference. He emphasized that the ministry would require adequate funding to execute the plan effectively.
His comments followed a petition from the Coalition of Unpaid Teachers, comprising graduates from Colleges of Education and universities who have gone over 13 months without pay.
After receiving the petition on September 30, the minister assured the group that the Ministry of Education, together with the Ministry of Finance, would submit a joint memorandum to Cabinet to address their concerns.
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