Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu has pledged to abolish Ghana’s double‑track system within 24 months, citing ongoing investments in infrastructure and quality improvements to resolve the challenge permanently. Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Monday, July 27, Mr. Iddrisu revealed that a $300 million World Bank facility will be directed toward expanding secondary school infrastructure and supporting reforms aimed at eliminating the system.
He dismissed claims by the Minority in Parliament that the loan was intended to finance the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme. The Minority had argued that the facility reflected the government’s inability to manage the economy after Ghana’s exit from the IMF programme, insisting it was meant to sustain Free SHS.
Rejecting that assertion, Mr. Iddrisu stressed that the World Bank funding is targeted at addressing long‑standing challenges in secondary education. “We’re borrowing to expand secondary education infrastructure. Don’t forget there was secondary education before Free SHS. We have finished our review; it has come to stay,” he said.
He explained that the government is pursuing three key priorities: expanding infrastructure, improving student feeding, and enhancing the quality of education. According to the minister, about GH¢3.4 billion has been allocated through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) in 2026 to improve feeding under the Free SHS programme.
He also said the government is working to improve learning outcomes by strengthening teacher professionalism, reviewing curriculum content, and placing greater emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and information technology.
Mr Iddrisu stressed that the World Bank facility is specifically intended to eliminate the double-track system, which he said has reduced contact hours between teachers and students.
“The World Bank loan is to help us end the double-track system, which didn’t allow for qualitative enhancement in terms of time hours between teachers and students. Within the next 24 months, we should see an end to the double-track system,” he stated. He added that schools such as Prempeh College and St Peter’s Senior High School have already begun making progress towards phasing out the double-track system.
Source: Leticia Osei
