Abolishing double-track could limit access to Free SHS - Education Minister warns

The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has warned that abolishing the double-track system under the Free Senior High School policy could prevent many students from accessing secondary education.

His concern comes in response to the opposition party, NDC, pledging to eliminate the system as part of its plans to improve the Free SHS policy.

Speaking on the state of Ghana’s education, the Minister explained that the government is currently building sufficient infrastructure to gradually phase out the double-track system.

“I hear people say they will abolish double track. And I think to myself, they don’t understand what they’re saying. If you abolish double track at Prempeh College today, the school will be unable to enrol a single additional student,” he remarked.

He clarified that due to the high number of students currently enrolled in schools because of the double-track system, removing it would limit opportunities for some students to attend.

“If I abolish track at Opoku Ware today, no Form one student can be enrolled there because the school has 4,500 students and because they have been divided into three, at any point in time, 300 students are there. If you don’t want double track and I cancel double track, 1,500 students who are going this year will not have space so they can’t go”, he explained further.