Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has cautioned against the sudden removal of Ghana’s double-track school system, stressing that an unplanned end could disrupt students’ educational paths. His statement responds to the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s recent pledge to eliminate the system if elected in 2024.
Dr. Adutwum emphasized that while the Ministry of Education is already working to phase out the double-track system gradually, it requires facility expansions to avoid overcrowding. He noted that the government has been constructing additional accommodation facilities across schools to support this transition.
Speaking at an education briefing for clergy in the Ashanti Region on October 29, Dr. Adutwum warned that canceling the system purely for political gain could create significant setbacks. “The double-track was introduced to meet increased high school enrollment, especially in category A schools. Many schools are already phasing out of double-track, like Tamale Senior High School, and Opoku Ware is likely to follow next year due to newly built facilities,” he explained.
He cautioned that abruptly ending double-track would result in space shortages at top schools, making it impossible to admit new students. “If you cancel double track at Prempeh College or Presec today, thousands of students will have nowhere to go,” he said. “The choice is ours, but canceling without preparation would be disastrous.”
