Haruna Iddrisu seeks GH₵100m from GETFund for school furniture production

Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu has formally requested the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to allocate GH₵100 million to St. Paul’s Technical School in Kukurantumi. The proposed funding is specifically aimed at addressing the significant furniture deficit currently affecting senior high schools across the country. By utilizing the Eastern Region-based technical school, the ministry plans to produce beds and chairs locally, potentially in partnership with other vocational institutions to meet national demand. This initiative represents a strategic shift toward leveraging domestic technical expertise to solve critical infrastructure challenges in the education sector. The Minister emphasized the importance of this local production model in ensuring that students have access to necessary furniture while supporting indigenous industrialization. This project is part of a broader effort to reduce shortages that have historically hampered the student experience in boarding facilities. Beyond the furniture initiative, the government is pursuing additional international support to enhance educational standards. Mr. Iddrisu disclosed a separate request for US$200 million from the World Bank to fund a new integrated basic education model. This proposal is distinct from the US$300 million already approved for the STARR-J Project, which is dedicated to the construction and upgrading of schools, including specialized facilities for students with special needs. These infrastructure and procurement projects are expected to be completed within a timeline of 12 to 18 months. The Minister noted that these investments are essential for modernizing the Ghanaian education system and creating a more inclusive learning environment. By integrating technical schools into the national supply chain, the ministry hopes to establish a sustainable framework for maintaining school infrastructure in the long term.