Free SHS trends over double-track system cancellation plans

Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has suggested that the double-track system in Senior High Schools will be cancelled under a potential Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia administration.

He stated that this decision stems from the next New Patriotic Party government’s plans to build more school facilities to accommodate a growing number of students nationwide.

Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, speaking at Dr Bawumia’s media engagement on education under the theme ‘Protecting Free SHS and Providing Skills for Jobs’ added that schools will soon be embarking on the single track system as initially observed.

The double-track system, implemented in 2018 to accommodate the overwhelming number of students under the Free SHS policy, works by dividing the total student population and staff into two tracks. While one track attends school, the other is on vacation, and vice versa.

“The double-track system will be brought to an end under Dr Bawumia’s government because he will build more school facilities that can accommodate the high student population. Some schools are no longer using the double-track system because we have built more facilities to accommodate their students.

“We have built facilities in Opoku Ware to accommodate about 4,500 student population so in the next academic year, they will no longer use the double-track system,” the minister said.

This has caused Free SHS to top X trends for Monday, November 11, 2024.

Some netizens criticize the government for implementing the double-track system despite inadequate school infrastructure. They argue that, instead of delivering its intended benefits, the system has negatively impacted students' learning.

Read some of the tweets below:

Unfortunately, the NPP Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and its supporters think Ghana's education sector is only about Free Senior High School (FSHS).

😢 😢😢

— YAW EDUFUL (@yaw_eduful_) November 10, 2024

So now you people know that we need more infrastructure to completely implement FSHS and when Mahama said same you said he wants to cancel FSHS

This gov’t errr https://t.co/m3OjDljM7m

— Kofi Andoh (@Kofi_Good) November 10, 2024

So they know the essence of building more schools before enrolling the FSHS .. https://t.co/aKMLhFNyXm

— AKWESI🇬🇭 (@_AlbertAkwesi) November 10, 2024

That was why a visionary leader like John Mahama was building the E-blocks to prevent double track

2 steadily and progressively introduce FSHS

They fail 2 plan.This was just common sense 🤦🏽‍♂️

It took dem 8yrs 2 realise this

First thing First 🤌🏽

Make sure you vote wisely 🗳️ https://t.co/gS5aUIv2bc

— Double E.kT🗿 (@Lero_LR) November 10, 2024

They would want to protect the FSHS and not make the education system better.

— Cletus ♉ (@ndeme_sung) November 10, 2024

It's funny how y'all wake up and think you can convince my cousin whose dad lost his job abroad during Covid that Free SHS is bad.

Had it not been FSHS, he would have dropped out.

7th December should come early.

— Yaw Marfo Adu (@YMarfoAdu) November 10, 2024

no Plan

no structure

No blueprint

just political scoring points,

non of you in the education minister is a thiinking person !!!

yall are archaic,non of you have a 10-20 years plan

just pure vibes !!! https://t.co/2X0egEkRa6

— Alokin Alset🇨🇦 (@pitingle123) November 11, 2024

If it’s good, why end it🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️ https://t.co/EPeVJWkLWN

— Eugenics (@AduaAduaeugene1) November 10, 2024

They’ve been planning to end it for a long time now https://t.co/Y3YXIE5CZj

— KOA (@KwabenaOA) November 10, 2024