Double-track system is the engine for Free SHS policy – Adutwum
Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum has described the double-track system introduced to address accommodation challenges in public Senior High Schools as a key factor of the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.
Dr Yaw Adutwum’s comment comes after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) announced they will abolish the double-track system should they win the 2020 presidential election which was scheduled for December 7, 2020.
“The National Democratic Congress has said it will abolish the double-track system but sustain Free SHS, what they do not know is double-track is the engine of the Free SHS vehicle”, the Minister for Education stated in an interview.
Asked if the Free SHS policy would be sustained, the Bosomtwe Member of Parliament replied yes adding that “should the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) win the 2020 polls, they will abolish the Free SHS programme.”
The Education Minister indicated that President Nana Akufo-Addo-led government is expanding facilities in some Senior High Schools (SHSs) to enrol more students in the 2021/2022 academic year and phase out the double-track.
In another interview, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum said the green and gold (double) track system also called year-round school will be phased out of all Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the country in the next two to three years.
The Bosomtwe MP speaking at a press briefing monitored by AcademicWeek.com said the double-track system is a temporary method to contain enrollment in SHSs amid a lack of infrastructure but will be removed soon.
“So the double-track system is a leapfrog strategy, it is time tested, I have taught in the program in America of all places where there is money, they use it in California until they had the money to take it away,” the Minister stated.
Introduce in 2018, the purpose of the double-track is to ensure final year Junior High School students who sit and pass the Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE) are accommodated in their preferred or selected Senior High School.
