Government targets 2027 to scrap double-track system in SHSs – Education Minister

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government is working towards phasing out the double-track system in Senior High Schools by 2027.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) in Sunyani, Mr Iddrisu said the move is part of broader reforms aimed at improving secondary education across the country.

“We expect that by the year 2027, the double-track system will be a thing of the past,” he declared.

The double-track system was introduced in 2018 as a temporary measure to accommodate the surge in student enrolment under the Free SHS policy. While it has helped absorb the increased numbers, it has also attracted criticism for its impact on academic schedules and student-teacher engagement.

To facilitate the transition, the Education Minister disclosed that government will implement several key initiatives, including revisions to the curriculum and changes to how the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is administered.

“We are working to revise the curriculum… If the government is to succeed in ending the double-track system, not later than Monday, you should have a board so that all expenditures are properly approved by the board,” Mr Iddrisu noted.

He also reaffirmed government’s broader commitment to strengthening human capital through sustained investment in the education sector.

According to the Minister, the GETFund will continue to play a vital role in expanding and improving school infrastructure to make room for all SHS students under a single-track system.

The meeting in Sunyani brought together heads of second-cycle institutions to discuss pressing challenges facing education delivery and to align on strategies to improve quality and access.