The government has earmarked GH¢1 billion to phase out the double-track system in senior high schools (SHSs).
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, announced this during the inauguration of a new staff accommodation facility at Accra Girls’ Senior High School.
The massive investment, which will reflect in next year’s budget, will be sourced from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
Rationale for double-track
The double-track system was introduced in the 2018/2019 academic year to accommodate the surge in student enrolment following the implementation of the audacious Free SHS policy.
It was expected to be a temporary measure to address the issue of insufficient infrastructure and overcrowding by dividing students into two groups to alternate in cycles, utilising the existing facilities more efficiently.
Infrastructural challenges
Mr Iddrisu explained that the proposed investment aimed to tackle the long-standing infrastructure deficit that necessitated the double-track system.
Mr Iddrisu explained that “this substantial investment is central to President Mahama’s vision for enhancing the quality of senior high school education.”
The Education Minister said the funds would be used to complete stalled projects, including classroom blocks and assembly halls, to ensure all students were accommodated in a single, unified system.
“We remain committed to ending the double-track system as our contribution to improving the quality of senior high school education,” Mr Iddrisu quoted President Mahama as saying, adding that “President Mahama has directed the Minister of Finance to make an allocation of GH¢1 billion, dedicated to managing the transition and responding to the challenges of the transition.”
Free SHS and digital solutions
Mr Iddrisu, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Free SHS policy, assuring the public that it would not be discontinued.
He said most people had thought that with the coming of President Mahama, Free SHS was going to be scrapped.
“Whatever it is, Free SHS is here to stay and it is contributing significantly to improving literacy and numeracy,” he assured.
Mr Iddrisu stressed that his administration would work to enhance the programme by investing in infrastructure and improving literacy and numeracy rates across the country.
He said so far, the ministry had phased out 100 double-track schools, adding that the remaining ones would be rigorously phased out with next year’s budget.
The minister added that the government would explore and implement additional measures, such as digital solutions, to expand access to quality education.
