President John Dramani Mahama has announced a GHS 3 billion investment to eliminate the double-track system in Ghana's secondary schools by 2027. This significant financial commitment aims to expand educational infrastructure and improve learning outcomes for students across the country.
The President made this declaration during the commissioning of an E-Block at Paga Senior High School in the Kassena-Nankana West District. He stated that the government would provide a 60-seater bus, a boys' dormitory, a girls' dormitory, and a dining hall for the school. This initiative is part of the broader 'Resetting Ghana Agenda' focused on enhancing educational quality and access at all levels.
Ghana's education sector has faced challenges with overcrowding and reduced contact hours due to the double-track system, introduced to accommodate the large number of students under the Free SHS programme. The government's plan to build 30 new secondary schools in high-population-density areas addresses these issues directly. This expansion seeks to ensure all students attend school simultaneously and receive adequate teacher interaction, which is crucial for academic performance.
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, confirmed that the Free SHS initiative has been reviewed under President Mahama's leadership. He highlighted monumental decisions taken to safeguard and expand secondary education. The President also noted that dedicated and continuous funding for the Free SHS programme has been established, improving the quality of education.
The GHS 3 billion investment will be channeled through the Secondary Education Transformation for Access, Relevance, and Results for Jobs (STARR-J) project. This project is designed to alleviate congestion in secondary schools and ultimately end the double-track system. The government plans to include funding for 30 new secondary schools in the upcoming year's budget.
The double-track system, implemented by the previous administration, resulted from insufficient infrastructure to support the Free SHS policy. President Mahama stated that his earlier E-Block concept aimed to prevent this outcome by expanding secondary school capacity. He criticized the abandonment of these projects, which led to the current system.
Ending the double-track system is expected to increase student-teacher contact hours. This improvement is vital for enhancing student performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The government believes that consistent and longer interaction with teachers will lead to better academic results.
The commitment to build 30 new secondary schools will address capacity deficits in urban and densely populated areas. These new facilities will provide more space for students, reducing the pressure on existing schools. The focus on infrastructure development underscores the government's strategy to create a more equitable and effective education system.
This substantial investment in education infrastructure signals a clear policy direction for the government. Stakeholders, including parents, educators, and students, will closely monitor the implementation of these projects. The successful execution of the STARR-J project and the construction of new schools will be critical indicators of progress towards ending the double-track system by the 2027 deadline. This move is expected to have a positive long-term impact on Ghana's human capital development and economic productivity.