Managing Editor of The Custodian newspaper, Awudu Mahama, has called for a more measured conversation on scrapping the controversial double-track system by 2027, warning against politicising a structure that, in his view, continues to serve a purpose.
In an interview on current education policy directions, Mahama shed light on his expectations on the government’s action on the matter.
“I did not expect the thing to be scrapped even in the first year of this administration. The premise is based on the fact that some of the E-blocks were going to be completed and all that”
Awudu Mahama, Managing Editor of The Custodian Newspaper
He argued that the scrapping of the system was not something that could happen in the early phase of President Mahama’s administration since the 2025 budget was only recently released.
“I expect that fund releases will be done for some of these E-blocks to be completed for space to be created for the double track to be scrapped”
Awudu Mahama, Managing Editor of The Custodian Newspaper
Government communicated 2027 as the expected end date for the double-track policy. But Mahama raised important questions about what that timeline actually means.
“2027? I don’t know whether it’s the end or beginning of the 2027 academic year, or the end of 2027. If it is the end, then it means that the tenure of this administration, this president would almost be ending”
Awudu Mahama, Managing Editor of The Custodian Newspaper
According to him, even if the policy is scrapped by then, it still fulfills the campaign promise and would be politically correct but people should not expect immediate results.
Apolitical Issue
Mahama called out what he sees as excessive politicisation of the double-track policy, particularly from those calling for its abolishment without acknowledging its benefits.
“I do not see why this double tracking has become so political that people say it must be scrapped.
“Especially when it has been explained that with the double track, more students have been taken in and even contact hours have been increased”
Awudu Mahama, Managing Editor of The Custodian Newspaper
“This was an innovative way of keeping the classes occupied and students busy all the time, all year round,” he said, praising the concept as one that maximises infrastructure by ensuring classrooms are not left idle when schools go on break.
According to him this view was shared by certain key personalities in the education space, including the president of Ashesi University who lauded the innovator of the double track system for their ingenuity.
Improvement, Not Abandonment
Rather than an outright abolishment, Mahama believes the focus should be on fixing operational issues in the double-track system.
“If there are challenges with the double track, we should be looking at that; the timetable, how people get into the schools, how they live and all that. How long do they stay in school? How long do they stay at home?
“I think there are things that we will iron out but because of the political decision that it must be scrapped at all cost, that is why the government is now in this situation”
Awudu Mahama, Managing Editor of The Custodian Newspaper
In his view, the political decision to eliminate the double track system outright is responsible for the tight corner that the government finds itself in.
“A government comes with a promise – they have promised that it will be abolished. It is a decision of the president that it will be abolished, and that’s what they are working towards”
Awudu Mahama, Managing Editor of The Custodian Newspaper
Infrastructure and Inclusion
However, Mahama expressed that the government’s ability to deliver on its promise depends significantly on whether the needed school infrastructure, like E-blocks, can be completed in time.
“I want to see how the E-blocks will be constructed or more classrooms will be created for the system to be abolished,” he stated.
He also highlighted that private schools were initially part of the proposal to help phase out the system but have been largely left out of recent conversations.
Referencing past administrations, Mahama said the previous government’s use of collateralised Getfund resources did lead to notable infrastructure development.
“If you look at the infrastructure that was put up, the dormitories, the classroom, extended classroom blocks, and all that, it was done by these collateralised funds”
Awudu Mahama, Managing Editor of The Custodian Newspaper
He expressed hope that the current administration will continue that momentum, even if the end result was the scrapping of the double track system, which he believes has “not reduced the quality of education.”
Though Mahama does not support claims that double track has lowered education quality, he believes the administration should follow through if it has made the policy decision.
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