Gov’t cannot end double-track in SHSs by 2027 – Former MoE PRO
Kwasi Kwarteng, a Former Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Ministry of Education, says the central government’s pledge to end double-track system at the Senior High School (SHS) level by 2027 is impossible.
Explaining why the government’s decision to scrap the double-track system in the next two years is not possible, the immediate past spokesperson said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lacks understanding of the policy.
His comment comes after the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, emphasized the need for targeted infrastructure investment in Senior High Schools to increase capacity and eliminate the double-track system by 2027.
At a meeting with the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) members held in Sunyani in the Bono Region, Honourable Haruna Iddrisu said the old age double-track system will soon be a thing of the past.
“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.
We expect that by the year 2027, the double-track system will be a thing of the past,” the Minister in Charge of Education told members of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) at the event.
But reacting to the Education Minister’s assurance to CHASS, Kwasi Kwarteng said the NDC in opposition labelled the double-track policy as a “failure” and vowed to eliminate it within 90 days of assuming office; however, they have now said the policy will remain until 2027.
“That’s not just a U-turn; it’s a manifestation of their prior ignorance and lack of understanding regarding the policy.
Let’s be clear: Free SHS was not just a political promise, but a constitutional duty and a catalyst for socioeconomic progress.
Its success led to a surge in enrollment, naturally straining infrastructure and resources, a global norm when access expands.
Yet Ghana defied the odds with the innovative double-track system, a practical solution to manage the increased demand.
Double-track reduced class sizes, improved teacher-student ratios, extended teaching hours, and created jobs.
Importantly, it advanced gender parity and gave underprivileged students access to elite schools like PRESEC, Wesley Girls, and Prempeh College—institutions that doubled their intake to accommodate thousands who previously had no chance.
The real challenge in phasing out the policy has never been infrastructure alone, but preference. Each year, over 100,000 spaces go unused because students can’t be placed in schools they didn’t choose, despite availability.
The result? Overcrowding in some schools and under-enrollment in others. Until we bridge the quality gap between schools, buildings alone won’t solve this imbalance.
That’s why our administration introduced STEM schools and upgraded them to Category A to shift demand and offer quality alternatives.
So, contrary to the misinformation the NDC spread, time has again proven that the double-track was never a flaw, but a bold, strategic solution that expanded access without compromising quality,” he said in a social media post sighted by Pretertiary.com.
