Double track system commences smoothly in Cape Coast

The double track Senior High School (SHS)system commenced smoothly in many schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis when students of the second batch of the Free SHS programme reported to school on Tuesday.

The double-track system which had been adopted by the New Patriotic Party administration is expected to absorb the extra intake of students to complement its free SHS flagship programme which seeks to provide free education for all.

Some fresh students, who had come with their parents and successfully gone through the admission processes were checked and ushered into their various dormitories when the Ghana News Agency visited some selected schools in the Metropolis.

The schools included; Mfantsipim School, Ghana National College, Aggrey Memorial Zion School, Christ the King Academy, St. Augustine College and Wesley Girls Senior High School.

There were long queues as parents, guardians and students waited patiently for their turn whilst others arrived from all walks of life to confirm their names either on the "green" or "gold" track list in swift preparation for admission or wait for next intake.

In all the schools the GNA visited, the admission processes were generally smooth and peaceful as many students who had gone through the processes beamed with smiles and ecstasy, waved their parents and wished them safe journey back home.

At the Mfantsipim School, parents and wards were found in different queues depending on the programme of choice and were being assisted by school authorities.

A total of 1,309 students had been placed in the school with 656 and 653 on the 'green' and 'gold' streams respectively.

The situation was the same at the Ghana National College, where Mrs. Caroline Nunoo, Assistant Head, Domestic told the GNA that adequate measures had been put in place to welcome all the 750 students placed in the school.

However, she complained about some students who had come to the school with their placement form but could not find their names on the school list.

Such students, according to her were directed to report the anomaly to the appropriate quarters for redress.

Madam Millicent Afari Ntiamoah, a parent who had come from Kpando in the Volta Region was worried because the school authorities had asked her to go back to the Junior High School her son attended to endorse his placement form before she could access the prospectus.

At Aggrey Memorial Zion School, a handful of parents and students were seen at the school's assembly hall waiting to go through the process.

According to Mr Japheth Koomson, an Administrator in-charge of IT who was optimistic that the numbers would increase, the school was ready to receive all the 757 students placed there.

Some parents expressed worry about the delay in processing while others complained about the school's demand for students result slip, placement form endorsed by former school heads, birth certificates and National Health Insurance (NHIS) cards.

Mr Stephen Mensah, a parent told the GNA they were not informed of the items in the student’s prospectus and therefore should be given some time to submit those items.

Other parents whose children had been placed in the 'gold' meaning they were in the second track were seen in the various schools to collect their prospectus thereby creating congestion.

At the Academy of Christ the King SHS, Madam Florence Offei Siaw, Headmistress of the School said that a total of 847 students had been placed at the school and 423 and 424 were placed respectively on the green and gold tracks.

Registration processes was smooth and parents and students who did not come along with the required documents were attended to unlike the situation in other schools.

Some students went to ‘Day' schools with their trunks and chop boxes but, were offered an option to pay a fee for hostel facility.

Registration at the Wesley Girls SHS was without any challenge when the GNA visited the school and at the St. Augustine's College where a total 1004 students had been placed with 500 on the green track while 504 were on the gold track.

Registration was on-going but the Headmaster, Mr Japheth Joseph Connel said he expected extra teachers for the students placed on the gold track in November.

Some parents also lauded the programme for the initiative to increase enrollment, but were unhappy with the long list of items to buy for their children who had gained admission.