Two new community day senior high schools at to be constructed in Nima in Accra and Kasoa in the Central Region under the proposed STAR-J infrastructure programme aimed at expanding access to secondary education and ease pressure on existing schools.

The Minister for Education, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, speaking at a press briefing dubbed "Government Accountability Series" in Accra on Monday (July 20, 2026) said the project formed part of efforts to increase enrolment under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.

He said the government had opted to build more community day schools instead of converting the existing schools into boarding institutions.

"It is the view of President John Dramani Mahama that we should encourage the establishment of community day schools in the category of what is in Kwabenya. So we'll build one in Nima and one in Kasoa as part of the STAR-J project," Mr Iddrisu said.

The minister explained that enrolment under the Free SHS policy had exceeded 1.5 million students, creating pressure on classrooms and other educational facilities across the country.

He said the STAR-J programme, which had received Cabinet approval, would provide new classroom blocks, rehabilitate existing senior high schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and upgrade selected Category B and Category C schools.

Responding to questions after his presentation, Mr Iddrisu said the proposed community day senior high school in Nima could be developed into a science school.

"We have no difficulty at all establishing that senior high school as a science school. The honourable Member of Parliament for the area has written formally to me, dedicating land for that purpose," he said.

On the proposed school in Kasoa, Mr Iddrisu said the municipality's rapid population growth made the project necessary.

"I hope you know the population of Kasoa. Whether one senior high school will be enough for them is a growing population and we need to expand their access to secondary education. We probably may locate it not as close to the original one but in another populated area," he said.

Mr Iddrisu said the projects formed part of the government's plans to increase access to secondary education while addressing infrastructure challenges arising from growing enrolment.