Government Sets 2027 Deadline to End Double-Track System in Senior High Schools

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu revealed the timeline during a stakeholders’ forum held in Sunyani on Thursday, where he addressed educators, school administrators, and policymakers on efforts to enhance the quality of secondary education in Ghana.

“We recognize the concerns raised about the double-track system and are committed to ending it,” Minister Iddrisu stated. “Significant investments in school facilities will ensure a seamless transition.”

The double-track system was introduced in 2018 as part of the implementation of the Free SHS policy, aiming to accommodate the influx of students and manage overcrowding in public schools. The system splits the academic calendar into two tracks, with alternating groups of students attending classes at different times throughout the year.

While the policy helped expand access to education, it has faced strong criticism from parents, educators, and political opponents — particularly the NDC — for reducing instructional time and straining already limited resources.

During the 2024 election campaign, the NDC promised to scrap the double-track system but was previously silent on a specific phase-out date. The announcement of the 2027 target now provides clarity and a renewed focus on infrastructure development in the education sector.

According to the Education Ministry, the government is accelerating the construction of new classroom blocks, dormitories, and other essential facilities to support the return to a single-track system.

Education stakeholders are cautiously optimistic about the government’s ability to meet the 2027 deadline, emphasizing the need for consistent funding, efficient project execution, and broad stakeholder engagement.

For now, the double-track system remains in effect, but with a firm deadline now in place, attention will be on the government’s actions over the next three years to determine whether this long-standing education concern will finally be resolved.