Double-Track SHS: 'Bold' Akufo-Addo got it right – Nigerian economist

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian economist who was the first female Minister of Finance of Africa’s most populous country, has lauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for introducing the double-track system in senior high schools (SHSs).

According to Ms Okonjo-Iweala, who was recently appointed to the board of social media giant Twitter, she feels inspired by President Nana Akufo-Addo’s introduction of the double-track system.

The Ghanaian government has explained that the two-track system is meant to cater for the spike in enrolment into SHSs due to the free SHS policy.

The full implementation of the new system is expected to cost GHS323 million. The objective of the double-track system is to create room to accommodate all the students, reduce class size, increase contact hours and increase the number of holidays.

The system is similar to the academic calendar used in the universities. With this system, each track will be in school for specific days for each semester and go on vacation and come back for the second semester. While the first track is in school, the second track will be on vacation and vice-versa.

In a tweet on Monday, 20 August 2018, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, said: “Congratulations to President Nana Akufo-Addo and his team for being bold enough to do things differently!”

Congratulations to President Nana Akufo-Addo and his team for being bold enough to do things differently!

— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) August 20, 2018

She added: “So inspired that the Government of Ghana is adopting the double-intake system for Senior High School entrants starting in September 2018 to take care of the large numbers of new entrants due to the free Secondary Education Policy.”

So inspired that the Government of Ghana is adopting the double intake system for Senior High School entrants starting in September 2018 to take care of the large numbers of new entrants due to the free Secondary Education Policy.

— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) August 20, 2018