Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the government is set to phase out the double-track system under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy by the year 2027.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) in Sunyani, the Minister outlined the government’s roadmap for returning to a single-track system, which includes major reforms in curriculum development and the restructuring of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
“We are working to revise the curriculum,” Hon. Iddrisu said. “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.”
The double-track system, introduced in 2018, was a temporary measure designed to accommodate the rising number of students entering senior high schools due to the implementation of Free SHS. While it allowed for increased enrollment, it also raised concerns about its impact on academic quality and teacher workload.
Minister Iddrisu assured stakeholders that the phasing out of the system will be supported by improved infrastructure, strategic investments in teacher training, and a more efficient administration of educational resources.
“We expect that by the year 2027, the double-track system will be a thing of the past,” he reaffirmed.
He further emphasized that GETFund will play a pivotal role in the transition by focusing on expanding educational facilities across the country, ensuring that no student is left behind due to infrastructural constraints.
The announcement has been met with cautious optimism by educationists and parents, many of whom have long called for a more sustainable approach to secondary education delivery.
