The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government will allocate GH₵1 billion from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) in 2026 to address critical infrastructure challenges in schools across the country.

He said the funding is part of a broader strategy to resolve long-standing deficits in educational facilities and ultimately eliminate the double-track system currently in place in many senior high schools.

“This funding will help us deal decisively with infrastructure deficits and ultimately tackle the double-track system,” the minister said during a working visit to the Upper East Region.

As part of his tour, Mr. Iddrisu visited Zebilla Senior High Technical School, where he interacted with WASSCE candidates and assessed the impact of the Bawku conflict on teaching and learning.

Addressing the students, he urged them to stay focused in spite of the tense environment.

“We need to say no to war, no to conflict. Education remains our surest bet to fight ignorance and poverty, so grab the opportunity and give it your best,” he said.

In a symbolic act during the visit, the Minister declined to wear a bulletproof vest offered to him.

"I refused to put it on because a bulletproof jacket does not belong in an academic environment. It does not create the conducive atmosphere needed for learning to thrive,” he said.

He called for calm and lasting peace in Bawku, stressing that peace is a prerequisite for educational development.

“Lasting peace must be restored in Bawku so that the city can be rebuilt and a serene environment for education restored,” he noted.

Mr. Iddrisu also highlighted the challenges students face in conflict-prone areas, noting that their difficulties are often overlooked during national assessments.

“It is unfortunate that examiners will not consider the fact that students here did not have the serenity and peace of mind to learn, yet they will be graded equally with their counterparts in peaceful areas,” he said.