– Gov’t Cracks Under Pressure to End ‘Obnoxious’ Double Track
By Gifty Boateng
After years of public outcry and a widely criticized “Double Track” system, the government has finally bowed to pressure, announcing the expansion of its much-touted Free Senior High School (FSHS) program to include private schools.
The move, set to kick off next academic year, aims to alleviate the crippling congestion in public schools and, as Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Abas Apaak boldly claims, “bring an end to what we all describe as the obnoxious double track.”
The FSHS policy, a flagship initiative of the previous administration in 2017, notoriously left out private institutions, creating a massive exodus of students to overcrowded public schools.
This forced the government into the highly unpopular and chaotic “Double Track System,” a desperate measure that saw students attending school at different times due to a severe lack of space, teachers, and resources. Parents consistently slammed the system, citing its many inconveniences.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had long championed the inclusion of private schools, vowing to dismantle the double track if returned to power.
Now, with the policy shift, the government appears to be adopting a key NDC campaign promise.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, May 27, in Accra, Dr. Apaak exuded confidence, stating that “extensive engagements” with stakeholders have paved the way for a successful rollout.
“We are very certain that the diligence we expect from our side and the eagerness by the private schools, we know the private schools will deliver,” he declared, promising the move would be a “artery” in resolving the double track nightmare.
In another significant development, the government announced a major overhaul of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) placement process. This year, candidates will be required to select their seven preferred Senior High Schools before sitting for the external examination.
Benita Sena Okity Duah, the National Free SHS Coordinator, revealed the change, claiming it’s designed to “ease the pressure on parents and pupils” during the notoriously chaotic placement process.
In years past, students agonizingly made their choices after the BECE, leading to widespread “agitation and confusion” and a litany of complaints over “poor placement outcomes.”
The new system, which kicks off immediately and runs until June 6, mandates candidates, with guidance from parents and school authorities, to select five main schools ranked by preference, plus two alternative choices from a specified appendix.
Students must also specify program and residential preferences, including three boarding and two day schools.
However, Okity Duah issued a stern warning: “Choices made cannot be changed.” She further cautioned that candidates cannot choose more than one school from “Category A” and are restricted on selections from “Category B,” though they can pick all five schools from “Category C.”
This radical shift aims to streamline a process that has historically been a source of immense stress for thousands of Ghanaian families.
The question remains: will it truly ease the pressure, or simply shift the anxiety to an earlier stage? Only time will tell if this latest government maneuver delivers on its promises.