$30m Chinese grant to fund new university in Damango – Education Minister

President John Dramani Mahama has dedicated $30 million from China to fund the construction of a new University of Science and Technology in Damongo, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has said.

Speaking at the inauguration of four colleges of education, namely at the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on Wednesday, said, “There is no category A school in the Northeast, Savannah, and Oti regions. We need to work at it.”

He added, “The good news for you to carry back home is that President Mahama has dedicated $30 million of grant money he got from the Chinese government for us to begin work on a new University of Science and Technology to be constructed in Damongo. That work has begun.”

Iddrisu also highlighted efforts to upgrade secondary education in the region, saying, “I have given some attention to the Damongo Girls Secondary School. I intend to elevate it to a category A school, but I will work the process gingerly in order that I don’t compromise quality for a declaration of a category A school.”

He noted that the school “will also receive some measurable support,” and added, “If all goes to plan, by early 2026, we will see some work at the Damango Secondary School.”

The Minister encouraged local leaders to actively support educational development in underserved areas, stating, “As stakeholders, as chiefs, you have a role to play with government to improve education in your communities.”

He addressed concerns over declining examination performance and broader education reforms.

“I refuse to accept that the government of President Mahama and the Ministry of Education and the assessment body would not accept responsibility for those poor performers.”

According to the minister, longstanding infrastructure deficits have weakened the quality of delivery at the senior high school level.

“Many of the institutions from 2008 till yesterday are still in the same infrastructure,” he noted. “Since Free Senior High School was launched, not a dormitory nor a classroom has been added to the infrastructure with exponential increases in their numbers.”

He said the pressure created by increased enrolment without corresponding expansion naturally affected teaching and learning. “That naturally will affect the quality of education delivery,” he stated.

The minister also referenced findings from the West African Examinations Council, which he said pointed to learning gaps among candidates.

“From the examiner’s report, when it comes to the issue of mathematics, most students were doing what you people call memorization and not application or analytical application of what they learned,” he said. “And that accounted for them struggling at the exams.”

He added that reduced instructional time under the double-track system worsened the situation.

“They spend less time with teachers, less time in the classroom than they should,” he said.