Mahama to invest GH¢1bn to complete schools, end double-track – NDC Chairman

‎Correspondence from Eastern Region

President John Dramani Mahama has reportedly sanctioned the immediate release of one billion Ghana cedis (GH¢1,000,000,000) to accelerate the completion of all outstanding community day senior high schools across the country.

This significant injection of funds is aimed at definitively ending the double-track system under the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.

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‎The announcement was made by the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, who stated that the projects, currently estimated to be 70 per cent complete, would be brought to full fruition without delay. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah shared this crucial update with residents of Abutakyi in the Akuapem North Constituency during a "thank you tour" following what the party describes as a successful outing in the 2024 general election.

‎The double-track system, introduced by the Akufo-Addo-led government to manage the overwhelming enrollment figures under Free SHS due to infrastructural deficits, has been a contentious issue. Critics and many parents have lamented its impact on contact hours, curriculum delivery, and the overall quality of education.

‎Speaking to a jubilant crowd at Abutakyi, Asiedu Nketiah, affectionately known as General Mosquito, emphasised President Mahama's unwavering commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure and ensuring a conducive learning environment for all Ghanaian students.

‎"President Mahama has listened to the genuine concerns of parents and students regarding the double-track system. We understand the challenges it poses to effective teaching and learning," Asiedu Nketiah asserted. "That is why, with this vision for a seamless and quality education, he has prioritised the completion of these vital community day schools. A whopping one billion Ghana cedis has been injected to ensure that these schools, which are already 70 per cent complete, are finished expeditiously."

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‎The community day schools, many of which were initiated under President Mahama's previous administration, were designed to expand access to secondary education, particularly in underserved communities, and reduce the burden on existing boarding facilities.

While some have been completed and are operational, many others have remained at various stages of completion, ironically contributing to the very capacity challenges the double-track system sought to manage.

‎Asiedu Nketiah assured the public that the completion of these schools would pave the way for a smooth transition to a single-track system, allowing all students to benefit from full academic calendars and improved instructional time.

‎The "thank you tour" by the NDC National Chairman signifies the party's efforts to reconnect with and express gratitude to its grassroots supporters following the recent general elections. It also serves as a platform to communicate key policy directives and development initiatives of the new administration to the populace.

‎The announcement has been met with optimism by education advocates and parents alike, who view the GH¢1 billion intervention as a crucial step towards realising a more equitable and efficient Free SHS policy for Ghana's future generations.

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