Free SHS: MoE gives ‘deadline’ to end double-track system in SHSs
The Minister in Charge of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, says the government, as part of key reforms in the country’s education sector, is taking steps to phase out or end double-track system at the Senior High School level in 2027.
The double-track system divides students into two tracks, thus the Gold track and the Green track, allowing one track to attend school while the other is on vacation to accommodate increased enrollment and reduce overcrowding.
The double-track system was introduced as part of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy in the 2018 academic year to address the challenges of increased enrollment and limited infrastructure capacity in various government second-cycle schools.
But at an engagement with the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) members at a meeting held in Sunyani in the Bono Region, Haruna Iddrisu said the double-track system will 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 Education Minister told members of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) at the event.
He also said that the government will undertake key reforms, including curriculum revisions and restructuring of the administration of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), to facilitate the process.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in education and human capital development, noting that the GETFund will continue to play a pivotal role in enhancing school infrastructure nationwide.
In a related development, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has inaugurated a Committee to develop a roadmap for transitioning Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools from the double-track system back to a single-track system.
In a social media post sighted by Pretertiary.com, the Education Ministry said the Committee tasked to plan the phase out of the double-track system will be chaired by Professor Peter Grant of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
Other members of the committee include representatives from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Ghana Education Service (GES), and other key stakeholders in the education sector.
It said the mandate of the committee is to assess the current system, consult widely, and propose practical solutions that will ensure a smooth transition without compromising access and quality.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Honourable Minister for Education emphasized the government’s commitment to improving the education sector, ensuring that all students receive uninterrupted learning opportunities.
“The Ministry looks forward to the committee’s recommendations and remains committed to implementing policies that enhance quality education for all Ghanaian students,” the Education Ministry said in the social media post.
