Haruna Iddrisu: Shift System in Public Schools Not a National Policy‎

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Published: May 29 2026

Published at: 7:40Pm

Story by Saibu Terry

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‎The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has clarified that the shift system in public schools is not a national policy and has largely been phased out across the country.
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‎Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Minister explained that the shift system was introduced as a temporary intervention to address overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure in some schools. According to him, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES), continues to expand infrastructure at the basic school level through the construction of additional classroom blocks to completely eliminate the practice.

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‎Hon. Haruna Iddrisu further disclosed that government remains committed to improving teaching and learning conditions across the country. He revealed that an amount of GH¢230 million has been allocated in the 2025 GETFund distribution formula for the procurement of school furniture for both basic and Senior High Schools nationwide.

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‎The Minister also highlighted the significance of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) policy introduced in 1996, stressing that the programme was designed to ensure every Ghanaian child has access to free, compulsory, and quality basic education while reducing illiteracy and promoting equity in education delivery.

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‎Addressing concerns raised by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Education Minister assured Parliament that the Ministry, through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), has taken the necessary measures to maintain industrial harmony within the tertiary education sector.
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‎He reiterated government’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s education system through sustained investment in infrastructure, teaching materials, and stakeholder engagement.