Double track was never a flaw – NDC’s U-turn exposes policy ignorance

NDC cannot end double track by 2027. They lack understanding of the policy

In opposition, the NDC made it their mission to demonize the double-track policy, labelling it a “failure” and vowing to remove it within 90 days of assuming office.

Today, our Education Minister says the policy will remain until 2027. That’s not just a U-turn; it’s a manifestation of their prior ignorance and cluelessness 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 intake to accommodate thousands who previously had no chance.

The real challenge in facing 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 underenrolment 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.

And so contrary to the misinformation the NDC put out there time has again proven that the double-track was never a flaw but a bold, strategic solution that expanded access without compromising quality.

By: Kwasi Kwarteng Esq
Fmr. Spokesperson, Ministry of Education

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